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 Like other similar conceits, however (Murder by Death comes immediately to mind), Clue can’t always sustain a high level of invention, despite its relatively brief 87-minute running time. — Kirk Ellis, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026 Money from the bond would go toward research in wildfire and pandemic preparedness, new medical treatments and other areas, with revenue from inventions shared with the state. — Felicia Mello, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026 The narrative of the Odyssey, therefore, shifts between fiction and fact, blending Homeric invention with religious beliefs, historical events, seafaring stories told by sailors, and accounts of distant lands by traders and travelers. — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026 So begins the first encounter between Jean Purdy and Dr. Robert Edwards in Joy (2024), the biographical drama of the invention of in vitro fertilization. — Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 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
  • Similar artificial intelligence legislation had failed in previous years due to concerns from the governor’s office that regulations would hinder innovation in the state.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
  • The typical approach, dispatching a small team to build an innovation lab in Silicon Valley and hoping the insights flow back to headquarters, has rarely worked.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 16 May 2026
Definition of innovation
Noun
  • But mostly, the intertwining threads just sit there, never coming together in any satisfying way or holding up as their own story within the story, despite how hard the writers work at showing that reality can inspire fiction but fiction can also bounce back to influence reality.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
  • For the week ending May 10, 2026 Here are this week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for fiction, based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, generously provided by the American Booksellers Association.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
Definition of fiction
Noun
  • The Pisces Moon adds imagination to strategy and helps good ideas connect.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
  • This combination from chef Gino Angelini is unlikely to have occurred in even your wildest imagination.
    — Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Definition of imagination
Noun
  • Slot and his side has received plenty of criticism for their style of play this season because of its lack of intensity, aggression, speed and creativity in and out of possession.
    — Colin Millar, New York Times, 16 May 2026
  • An ambitious man, always pursuing new avenues for his creativity, Powell experimented with different media (radio, film and television) at a time when not many did.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 May 2026
Definition of creativity
Noun
  • Because either McCluskie is one heck of a con man who rolled both Becerra and Williamson, making both believe what was happening was kosher with entirely different tales, or someone isn’t being entirely honest.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
  • The bittersweet tale infused with humor and sadness chimed with the Cannes audience.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 May 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
  • Intel is indeed ramping up capacity quickly, with a new chip fabrication plant now in high-volume production in Chandler, Arizona.
    — Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 8 May 2026
  • By the Second World War, the steel alloys had improved in composition, metal fabrication methods made armor more homogeneous, and the thickness was increased to create much tougher plating.
    — David Szondy May 07, New Atlas, 7 May 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 17 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on invention

Nglish: Translation of invention for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about invention

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