Definition of CONCEPTION (original) (raw)
1
b
"Joy had the like conception in our eyes … "—
William Shakespeare
2
a
: the capacity, function, or process of forming or understanding ideas or abstractions or their symbols
He directed the project from conception to completion.
b
: a general idea : concept
We get the conception of an animal … by comparing different animals …—John Stuart Mill
c
: a complex product of abstract or reflective thinking
the philosopher's conception of reality
d
: the sum of a person's ideas and beliefs concerning something
his conception of the American dream
3
: the originating of something in the mind
an artist's conception of how the city would look a hundred years from now
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for conception
idea, concept, conception, thought, notion, impression mean what exists in the mind as a representation (as of something comprehended) or as a formulation (as of a plan).
idea may apply to a mental image or formulation of something seen or known or imagined, to a pure abstraction, or to something assumed or vaguely sensed.
concept may apply to the idea formed by consideration of instances of a species or genus or, more broadly, to any idea of what a thing ought to be.
a society with no concept of private property
conception is often interchangeable with concept; it may stress the process of imagining or formulating rather than the result.
our changing conception of what constitutes art
thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.
commit your thoughts to paper
notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.
you have the oddest notions
impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.
the first impression is of soaring height
Examples of conception in a Sentence
He directed the project from conception to production. the conception of a new device They have a clear conception of how the process works. a child's conception of responsibility They have very different conceptions of the proper role of government.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many of the genre elements that made it into the final film weren’t even there in the original conception. —Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025 The fact is, anonymity in donor conception has been on shaky ground for a while. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 One is in our conception of inflation, the theory of the extremely early universe. —Paul Sutter, Space.com, 25 Jan. 2025 He has never been nominated for an Oscar, a fact that reveals the industry’s narrow conception of acting. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for conception 
Word History
Etymology
Middle English concepcioun, from Anglo-French concepcion, from Latin conception-, conceptio, from concipere — see concept entry 1
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Time Traveler
The first known use of conception was in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near conception
Cite this Entry
“Conception.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conception. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 3 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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