invention
ihn-VEHN-shuhn
Invention (noun) means something newly created or designed. Example: “The young engineer showed off her latest invention at the school fair.”
noun
1
Something newly created or designed.
"The young engineer showed off her latest invention at the school fair."
"This clever invention folds flat so it fits in a small drawer."
"The telephone was a groundbreaking invention."
2
The act or ability of creating something new.
"Necessity is often the mother of invention, especially when money is tight."
"Her talent for invention showed early, when she built a radio from spare parts."
"The prize rewards invention and creative problem-solving."
How to use invention
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA newly created thing, or the creative act of coming up with it.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
groundbreaking invention
patent an invention
necessity is the mother of invention
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like invention.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- inventions
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The young engineer showed off her latest _____ at the school fair.
Etymology
From Latin inventiō, from inveniō, "to discover, find, invent."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for invention
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for invention →
Frequently asked questions
What does “invention” mean?
The word “invention” means something newly created or designed. In plain terms, a newly created thing, or the creative act of coming up with it.
How do you pronounce “invention”?
“Invention” is pronounced ihn-VEHN-shuhn (/ɪnˈvɛnʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “invention” in a sentence?
Here is “invention” used in a sentence: “The telephone was a groundbreaking invention.”
What is another word for “invention”?
Words with a similar meaning to “invention” include discovery.
What part of speech is “invention”?
“Invention” is a noun.
Where does the word “invention” come from?
The word “invention” comes from Latin. From Latin inventiō, from inveniō, "to discover, find, invent.".
Is “invention” a common word?
“Invention” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “invention” have?
“Invention” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something newly created or designed.
What is the difference between invention and discovery?
An invention is something newly created or designed that did not exist before, such as a machine or process. A discovery is the finding of something that already existed but was unknown, such as a planet or a natural law.
What is the difference between invention and innovation?
Invention is the act of creating something entirely new. Innovation usually means developing, improving, or successfully applying ideas and inventions so they are actually used, which is why businesses talk about innovation more than invention.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include invention:
