invention

noun

in-ˈven(t)-shən How to pronounce invention (audio)
Definition of inventionnext
1
as in innovation
something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination his clever invention made people's lives easier

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2
as in fiction
something that is the product of the imagination unsurprisingly, the story about being kidnapped by aliens was pure invention

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3
as in imagination
the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others a writer with great invention, she is able to create on the page worlds that don't exist but certainly seem like they could

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4
as in creativity
the skill and imagination to create new things a person of seemingly endless invention, Thomas Edison held a world-record 1,093 patents

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of invention The rest went to the consumers and businesses that used the inventions. — Ruchir Sharma, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026 The Bourse de Commerce is home to the Pinault Collection in Paris, where curator Matthieu Humery has assembled some 700 works tied to the invention of photography 200 years ago. — Amy Verner, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026 Gone are the beer bashes, the thrill of invention and any hint that Zuckerberg lusted for something — women, attention, clout — other than a quarterly earnings report. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 Lucy’s constant sense of invention sometimes falters under the album’s new, megawatt spotlight, lacking the enticing mystery that gives their best music its power. — H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for invention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invention
  1. innovation
  2. fiction
  3. imagination
  4. creativity
  5. tale
  6. imaginativeness
  7. creativeness
  8. fabrication
Noun
  • By 2015, New Atlas was covering innovations such as the Diamond Hotend, which combined three filament feeds into a single nozzle, although even that approach could produce waste towers when changing colors.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Some might think introducing another layer of accountability would stifle innovation.
    — Giorgos Tsetis, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of innovation
Noun
  • Forty-five films are selected for the fiction shortlist including Cannes 2026 Palme d’Or winner Fjord, Venice Golden Lion winner Woman Unknown and awards season frontrunners such as La Bola Negra and Coward.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Professor Dixon’s emails were just like his fiction writing—intimate and full of quotidian details.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of fiction
Noun
  • With memory comes the intertwining of reflection and imagination.
    — Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
  • His musical imagination was shaped not only by metal and punk, but by manga, videogames, professional wrestling, and the examples of Korn and Linkin Park.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of imagination
Noun
  • What readers are saying The comments reflect a wide appreciation for walking as a beneficial activity for creativity, problem-solving, and mental clarity.
    — Richard Sima, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The safe and predictable format and approach to creativity that was needed to broaden appeal to advertisers.
    — William Daddi, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of creativity
Noun
  • Then on Wednesday morning, Luna reunited with her owners thanks to the efforts of local rescuers, tourists and park employees, capping a survival tale that required avoiding bears and coyotes while locating enough sustenance and shelter.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That level of control precluded a Vatican media operation from spinning tall tales as occurred during John Paul's reign.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of tale
Noun
  • There's also a palpable new seam of imaginativeness among residents.
    — Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2024
Definition of imaginativeness
Noun
  • But without freedom, Berdyaev writes, creativeness is impossible.
    — Andrew McDiarmid, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Definition of creativeness
Noun
  • In these structures, a thin ruthenium metal film formed selectively on the MoSe₂ regions, demonstrating another way to control material placement during semiconductor fabrication.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Before any physical fabrication starts, cell engineers use virtualization throughout the process.
    — John Voelcker, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of fabrication

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Cite this Entry

“Invention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invention. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on invention

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about invention

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