# invention

/ˌɪnˈvɛnʃən/ (US) · /ɪnvˈɛnʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/invention
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a new creation

noun · CEFR A2

a new tool, machine, or system that someone has created for the first time.

For teachers: a unique or novel device, method, composition, or process originated from study and experimentation.

- The light bulb is one of the most important inventions in history.
- The patent office received thousands of applications for inventions ranging from simple household tools to complex industrial machinery.

### 2. the act of creating

noun · CEFR B1

the process of designing or creating something that has never been made before.

For teachers: the act or process of inventing; the transition from a concept to a functional reality.

- The invention of the internet changed how the world communicates.
- The rapid invention of new vaccines during the pandemic demonstrated the power of global scientific collaboration.

### 3. creative ability

noun · CEFR B2

the ability to think of new and clever ideas.

For teachers: the creative faculty or ability to conceive of new ideas or solutions.

- The chef is famous for his invention and use of unusual ingredients.
- The novelist's powers of invention were evident in the intricate world-building and unique languages she developed for the series.

### 4. a false story

noun · CEFR B2

something that is not true and has been made up to trick people.

For teachers: a fabricated story or falsehood; a product of the imagination presented as fact.

- The story about him winning the lottery was a complete invention.
- The journalist was fired after the editor discovered that several key interviews in the article were pure invention.

### 5. musical piece

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a short piece of music, usually written for a keyboard instrument like the piano.

For teachers: a short, contrapuntal musical composition, most notably the two- and three-part keyboard works by J.S. Bach.

- The piano student practiced a Bach invention for her upcoming recital.
- The student struggled to maintain the independence of the two voices while performing the Bach invention at the required tempo.

## Examples

- The light bulb is a famous invention.
- The scientist spent years working on her new invention to clean the ocean.
- While the patent office reviewed the technical specifications of the invention, the legal team prepared for potential challenges regarding the original design's intellectual property.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.