What does conception mean?
Word: Conception
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Conception means an idea of what something is like, or the forming of a plan in the mind; also the beginning of something.
Synonyms: idea, notion, beginning, origin
Antonyms: end
How do you spell conception?
Syllables: con - cep - tion
Tricky part: The second c is soft and sounds like s, so students write conseption. The ending is ption, with a t.
Watch out for: conseption, concepsion, concepton
Memory tip: Reception, perception and conception are a family of three: learn one and you have the pattern for all.
Conception in a sentence
Example 1: I had no conception of how big the ocean was until I saw it from a ship.
Example 2: The festival was a success from its conception to the final night.
Example 3: Each child drew their own conception of a city on Mars.
Fun Fact
Conception comes from Latin concipere, to take in or hold. The same verb gave us concept, an idea held in the mind.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to conception as used in the sentence:
Our class newspaper had Mr Rao's full support from its very conception.
a) launch
b) start
c) completion
d) outset
Show answer
c) completion. Conception here means the very beginning, so its opposite is completion.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. conception 2. imajination 3. inovation 4. invension
a) the forming of an idea or plan in the mind
b) something created for the first time
c) the ability to picture things in the mind
d) a new method or idea
Show answer
a) the forming of an idea or plan in the mind. Conception alone is right; imagination, innovation and invention are the correct spellings of the others.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
conceeption
a) p
b) n
c) e
d) c
Show answer
c) e. Only one e follows the second c.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Even as a child, Tara had a firm npcioonect of the garden she wanted to grow.
a) concoction
b) perception
c) exception
d) conception
Show answer
d) conception. Exception needs an x, perception an r and a second p, and concoction a third c, so conception is the answer.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A person with a clear conception of a plan ____.
a) has copied it from someone
b) keeps changing it again and again
c) can picture how it will work
d) has already finished it
Show answer
c) can picture how it will work
2. A misconception is ____.
a) a rule that is hard to follow
b) an idea shared by everyone
c) a belief that is mistaken
d) a plan made too early
Show answer
c) a belief that is mistaken
