conception

[ kuhn-sep-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of conceiving; the state of being conceived.
2. fertilization; inception of pregnancy.
3. a notion; idea; concept:

   She has some odd conceptions about life.

4. something that is conceived:

   That machine is the conception of a genius.

5. origination; beginning:

   The organization has been beset by problems from its conception.

6. a design; plan.
7. a sketch of something not actually existing:

   an artist's conception of ancient Athens.

8. the act or power of forming notions, ideas, or concepts.

conception

/ kənˈsɛpʃən /

noun

1. something conceived; notion, idea, design, or plan
2. the description under which someone considers something

   her conception of freedom is wrong

3. the fertilization of an ovum by a sperm in the Fallopian tube followed by implantation in the womb
4. origin or beginning

   from its conception the plan was a failure

5. the act or power of forming notions; invention

conception

/ kən-sĕp′shən /

1. The formation of a zygote resulting from the union of a sperm and egg cell; fertilization.

conception

1. Fertilization ; the union of the sperm and ovum to form a zygote . ( See reproductive systems .)

Derived Forms

• conˈceptional, adjective

Other Words From

• con·ception·al adjective
• con·ceptive adjective
• postcon·ception adjective
• recon·ception noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conception¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English concepcion from Latin conceptiōn- (stem of conceptiō ), equivalent to Latin concept- ( concept ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of conception¹

C13: from Latin conceptiō, from concipere to conceive

Example Sentences

Valadao previously co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, a failed House bill that would have banned abortion nationwide with no exceptions.

From Los Angeles Times

The musical, in the words of the published script, “was written as a Japanese conception of what a Broadway musical might be as conceived from the traditional Japanese theatrical viewpoint.”

From Los Angeles Times

After the ordeal of their conception attempts, which Georgie described as a journey "to hell and back", Sir Ben called for surrogacy to be "professionalised as much as possible" as they praised the process in the US as "so well-regulated".

From BBC

Valadao previously co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, a failed House bill that would have banned abortion nationwide with no exceptions.

From Los Angeles Times

Historian Timothy Snyder, whose new book On Freedom was published in September, joined Dahlia Lithwick on this week’s Amicus podcast to discuss why an upside-down conception of freedom, and the facts-optional framework of originalism, could be the court’s undoing in the aftermath of this election.

From Slate

Related Words

• appreciation
• conceit
• concept
• impression
• interpretation
• notion
• perception
• realization