conception.

1. A particular way of understanding or imagining something.

2. The beginning or development of an idea or plan.

3. The initiation of pregnancy through fertilization.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• conception of justice
• broad conception

On the page

The reform reflects a broader conception of public responsibility.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic / formal. Forms: Singular conception; plural conceptions. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: moderately common.