conception

conception — noun

1. the particular way in which you picture or understand something in your mind — f

1.nounB2
Definition

the particular way in which you picture or understand something in your mind — for example, your idea of what a fair society looks like, or what it means to be a good parent

Example

Salma's conception of leadership changed after she worked with a truly inspiring boss.

someone's conception of [abstract noun] changes

Many hold a romantic conception of a writer's life, not seeing the work it takes.

collocation: romantic conception of [something]

Common collocations
  • romantic conception
  • traditional conception
  • conception of justice
  • conception of beauty
  • conception of the world
  • popular conception
  • modern conception
Synonyms
  • notion

    slightly less formal than conception, often suggests a vague or casual idea

  • idea

    the most common word; conception implies a more developed or structured view

  • understanding

    focuses on comprehension of how something works, not just a mental picture

  • perception

    emphasizes how something is seen or interpreted, often through the senses

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

conception + of + noun phrase

someone's conception of [something]

Usage Note

Often used with of to introduce the thing being understood, as in 'their conception of freedom'. Can be modified by adjectives that describe the viewpoint (romantic, traditional, modern, narrow).

Common Mistakes

I have a conception that the train leaves at six.
I have the idea that the train leaves at six.
'conception' is too formal for simple everyday thoughts; use 'idea' instead.

2. the biological process in which a sperm cell from a male joins with an egg cell

2.nounB2
Definition

the biological process in which a sperm cell from a male joins with an egg cell from a female, causing a baby or other young animal to begin to develop

Example

The doctor explained that conception occurs when a sperm meets an egg inside the body.

when-clause describing the biological event

For some couples, conception happens naturally within months of trying for a baby.

Common collocations
  • process of conception
  • at conception
  • assisted conception
  • achieve conception
  • prevent conception
  • conception rate
Synonyms
  • fertilization

    more technical term focusing on the cell-joining event itself

  • impregnation

    very formal or medical, rarely used in everyday speech

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the process of conception

[event] takes place at conception

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense; you do not say 'a conception' when referring to the biological process. Frequently appears in medical, scientific, or formal contexts. Distinguish from sense 1: 'conception' as an idea uses the countable form ('a conception of justice').

Common Mistakes

The couple had a conception after three months.
The couple achieved conception after three months.
'conception' is uncountable; use 'achieve conception' or 'become pregnant' for natural English.
Conception is when a baby is made.
Conception is the process in which a sperm cell joins with an egg cell.
define clearly without vague phrasing.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Conception, idea, notion, concept, and perception all refer to mental representations, but they differ in formality, depth, and scope. Conception suggests a fairly well-developed, personal way of understanding something — it is more structured than a passing thought. Idea is the broadest and most neutral term, suitable for any thought or suggestion. Notion often implies a vague or casual belief that may not be fully examined ('She had a notion that he was lying'). Concept is more formal than idea and usually refers to an abstract principle or category ('the concept of democracy'). Perception emphasizes the role of personal viewpoint or sensory interpretation ('public perception of the policy'). In everyday conversation, 'idea' is nearly always the safest choice; 'conception' belongs in more reflective or analytical contexts where you want to stress how someone frames a whole subject.

idea ↗notion ↗concept ↗perception

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • conception of the world
  • conception of justice
  • a society's conception

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Conception comes from Latin conceptio, meaning 'a receiving' or 'a becoming pregnant', from concipere — 'to take in'. The biological sense is the original one: receiving seed into the womb. By the 1500s, English speakers began using the same word figuratively for 'receiving an idea into the mind'. Both senses therefore share the same historical root — one physical, the other mental — and the metaphor of 'taking in' something that grows.