invocation
noun
in·vo·ca·tion
ˌin-və-ˈkā-shən 
1
a
: the act or process of petitioning for help or support
specifically, often capitalized
: a prayer of entreaty (as at the beginning of a service of worship)
b
: a calling upon for authority or justification
2
: a formula for conjuring : incantation
3
: an act of legal or moral implementation : enforcement
Examples of invocation in a Sentence
his repeated invocations of the ancient philosophers
justifying his position by invocation of the past
The poem begins with an invocation of the Muses.
They began the meeting with an invocation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Every single one of these inane points is something federal judges might have gotten an opportunity to weigh in on had the president publicly announced an invocation of the act, as Sotomayor notes Congress requires.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2025
Boasberg scheduled another hearing in the case for April 8 to further discuss the government's argument on its invocation of the privilege.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2025
Moments after its invocation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that around 250 people, some allegedly members of the MS-13 and Tren de Aragua (TdA) gangs, were sent to El Salvador.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
In its invocation, the department included declarations from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
—Conrad Hoyt, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invocation
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2025
Boasberg scheduled another hearing in the case for April 8 to further discuss the government's argument on its invocation of the privilege.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2025
Moments after its invocation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that around 250 people, some allegedly members of the MS-13 and Tren de Aragua (TdA) gangs, were sent to El Salvador.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
In its invocation, the department included declarations from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
—Conrad Hoyt, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invocation
Cite this Entry
“Invocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invocation. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
invocation
noun
in·vo·ca·tion
ˌin-və-ˈkā-shən
1
a
: the act or process of asking for help or support
b
: a prayer for blessing or guidance (as at the beginning of a religious service)
2
: a formula for calling forth spirits or performing magic : incantation
Legal Definition
invocation
noun
in·vo·ca·tion
ˌin-və-ˈkā-shən
1
: a calling upon for authority or justification
2
: an act of legal implementation
an invocation of the contract clause
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