Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

conception

/kənˈsɛpʃən/ noun

In Latin: conceptio Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about conception at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances.
The act of becoming pregnant; fertilization of an ovum by a spermatozoon.
The event that occurred at the beginning of something.
from its creation the plan was doomed to failure

Origin

From Middle English concepcioun, borrowed from Old French conception, from Latin conceptiō (“a comprehending, a collection, composition, an expression, also a becoming pregnant”), from concipiō, past participle conceptus (“conceive”); see conceive. Equivalent to conceive + -tion.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word