Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

conception

/kənˈsɛpʃən/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.75 in modern English

Syllables
con-cep-tion
IPA
/kənˈsɛpʃən/
16
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The act of conceiving.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The state of being conceived; the beginning.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The fertilization of an ovum by a sperm to form a zygote.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The start of pregnancy.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The formation of a conceptus or an implanted embryo.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The power or faculty of apprehending of forming an idea in the mind; the power of recalling a past sensation or perception; the ability to form mental abstractions.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

An image, idea, or notion formed in the mind; a concept, plan or design.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Something conceived or designed.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- substratebor.? Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *kapyéti Proto-Italic *kapjō Archaic Latin kapiō Latin capiō ▲ Ancient Greek σῠλλᾰμβᾰ́νω (sŭllămbắnō)calq. Latin concipiō Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin conceptiōlbor. Old French conceptionbor. Middle English concepcioun English conception 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.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /kənˈsɛpʃən/
  • British English: /kənˈsɛpʃən/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Antonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce conception?
The recorded pronunciation is /kənˈsɛpʃən/.
What does conception mean?
The act of conceiving.
Where does conception come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce conception

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “conception”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/kənˈsɛpʃən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “conception”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “conception” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.