ENGLISH
REFERENCE

inflection

n.
C1 Advanced US //ˌɪnˈfɫɛkʃən// UK //ɪnflˈɛkʃən// in·flec·tion

n. a change in the way a word is spoken or written to show a different meaning. In math, it is a way to describe how a curve bends or turns.

n. a change in the form of a word to express a grammatical function or distinguish it from another word. In mathematics, it refers to the curvature of a surface or the rate of change of a function's slope.


SIMPLE

The inflection of the verb shows that the action is finished.

CONTEXTUAL

The teacher explained that the correct inflection of the pronoun is essential for the sentence to make sense.

COMPLEX

In differential geometry, the second derivative provides a measure of the inflection of a curve, indicating whether it is bending upward or downward at a specific point.

Synonyms
Origin

From older inflexion, borrowed from Middle French inflexion, itself borrowed from Latin inflexiōnem (“alteration”, literally “bending”). The English spelling with ⟨ct⟩ is due to influence from inflect or related words like correction.

© 2026 English Reference