inflection
noun
in·flec·tion
in-ˈflek-shən 
1
: change in pitch or loudness of the voice
2
a
: the change of form that words undergo to mark such distinctions as those of case, gender, number, tense, person, mood, or voice
b
: a form, suffix, or element involved in such variation
c
3
: the act or result of curving or bending : bend
4
a
: change in curvature of an arc or curve from concave to convex or conversely
b
Did you know?
Changing the pitch, tone, or loudness of our words are ways we communicate meaning in speech, though not on the printed page. A rising inflection at the end of a sentence generally indicates a question, and a falling inflection indicates a statement, for example. Another way of inflecting words is by adding endings: -s to make a noun plural, -ed to put a verb in the past tense, -er to form the comparative form of an adjective, and so on.
Examples of inflection in a Sentence
She spoke with no inflection.
She read the lines with an upward inflection.
Most English adjectives do not require inflection.
“Gone” and “went” are inflections of the verb “go.”
English has fewer inflections than many other languages.
Recent Examples on the Web
Washington’s vocal cadence has always been something akin to jazz — altering pace, inflection, and volume to keep other characters (and audience members) off balance.
—
Dalton Ross, EW.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Effective communication is 7% words, 38% inflection, and 55% facial expression.
—George Bradt, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Mixing traditional doc methods with recreations and creepy genre-movie inflections, that film provided an unsettling exploration of sleep paralysis, a condition in which the mind is wide awake, but the body is frozen.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025
Bath & Body Works is positioned for a fundamental inflection in 2025 following a difficult three years for the stock, according to JPMorgan.
—Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflection
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Dalton Ross, EW.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Effective communication is 7% words, 38% inflection, and 55% facial expression.
—George Bradt, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Mixing traditional doc methods with recreations and creepy genre-movie inflections, that film provided an unsettling exploration of sleep paralysis, a condition in which the mind is wide awake, but the body is frozen.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025
Bath & Body Works is positioned for a fundamental inflection in 2025 following a difficult three years for the stock, according to JPMorgan.
—Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflection
Cite this Entry
“Inflection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflection. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inflection
noun
in·flec·tion
in-ˈflek-shən
1
: a change in the pitch or tone of a person's voice
2
: the change in the form of a word showing its case, gender, number, person, tense, mood, voice, or comparison
inflectional
adjective
-shnəl
-shən-ᵊl
Medical Definition
inflection
noun
in·flec·tion
variants
or chiefly British inflexion
: the act or result of curving or bending
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