WordGarden.ioinvention
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪnvˈɛnʃən/
US
- /ˌɪnˈvɛnʃən/
Meanings
Noun
a new device, method, or idea that has been created
the act or process of creating something new
a made-up story, explanation, or excuse
More meaningsFewer meanings
creative skill or ingenuity
a short contrapuntal musical composition
Beyond the definition
An invention is something new that people create, often to solve a problem or make life easier. Think about the wheel or the light bulb; these were human-made ideas that changed history. But it does not have to be something huge. A simple new tool or a smart new way to do something can also count. For example, a camper might come up with a new way to hang a hammock using only rope and branches. The word often suggests creativity and practical use.
You might read about famous inventions in a textbook or hear about new tech ones in the news. It is important to distinguish invention from discovery: finding gold is not an invention, but creating a new way to mine it is. The process often involves trial and error, and sometimes even happy accidents.
An invention is a new device, method, or process created by people, often to solve a problem or meet a need. It is different from a discovery. A discovery reveals something that already exists in nature or in the world, while an invention is something people make or develop. For example, electricity was a natural phenomenon that people came to understand, but the light bulb was invented.
The word "invention" can refer both to the act of creating something new and to the thing that is created. For example, "Her invention changed communication" refers to a specific thing she made, while "He devoted his life to invention" refers to the work of creating new things.
Historically, inventions have played a major role in human progress, shaping technology and daily life. From early tools like the wheel and the lever to modern devices like the microprocessor and the smartphone, they have changed how people live, work, and communicate.
The word usually suggests originality, though the degree can vary. Some inventions are completely new, while others are important new improvements to things that already exist. Because new creations can have practical and economic value, many countries allow inventors to protect them through patents. Whether it is a major medical device or a small but clever gadget, an invention shows how human creativity can turn ideas into something useful in the real world.
Examples
- 1
Household tool
The dishwasher was a practical invention that saved people hours of work.
- 2
Agricultural technology
Her latest invention is a tiny sensor that warns farmers when plants need water.
- 3
Historical technology
The invention of the printing press made books much easier to produce.
- 4
Patent protection
The company filed a patent to protect its new invention.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Product development
Many inventions fail at first because they are too expensive to make.
- 6
False story
His excuse about being locked in the office was a complete invention.
- Phrasea complete invention
a story that is not true
- 7
Proverb
"Necessity is the mother of invention," she said, after fixing the chair with tape and string.
- PhraseNecessity is the mother of invention
problems can make people create clever solutions
See also
Similar
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- patent an invention
- groundbreaking invention
- the invention of
Word family
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Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- inventionnoun
Forms
- inventionspluralnoun