conception
noun
con·cep·tion
kən-ˈsep-shən 
1
a(1)
: the process of becoming pregnant involving fertilization or implantation or both
b
: beginning
"Joy had the like conception in our eyes … "—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare2
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
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
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
So this was quite a departure from traditional conceptions of the subject.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Such rote, nakedly procedural appeals inherently reek of moral relativism to the extent they are not grounded at all in any substantive conception of good and bad, or right and wrong.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Kingsnorth’s conception encompasses all these modes.
—Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The film honors Mary Shelley’s conception of the Monster with an uncommon degree of sensitivity – and notably deploys an array of optical effects to stress the experience of Adam’s second-hand eyes taking in the world for the first time.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conception
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Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Such rote, nakedly procedural appeals inherently reek of moral relativism to the extent they are not grounded at all in any substantive conception of good and bad, or right and wrong.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Kingsnorth’s conception encompasses all these modes.
—Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The film honors Mary Shelley’s conception of the Monster with an uncommon degree of sensitivity – and notably deploys an array of optical effects to stress the experience of Adam’s second-hand eyes taking in the world for the first time.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conception
Cite this Entry
“Conception.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conception. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
conception
noun
con·cep·tion
kən-ˈsep-shən
1
: the beginning of pregnancy involving formation of a zygote
2
a
: the function or process of conceiving ideas
b
: a general idea : concept
had no conception of what he was saying
3
: the originating of an idea
the conception of a new device
Medical Definition
conception
noun
con·cep·tion
kən-ˈsep-shən
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