Word
invocation
Phoneticsin·vo·ca·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪnvəˈkeɪʃən/
UK/ɪnvəʊkˈeɪʃən/
Definition
n. the act of calling on someone or something for help, or the use of a specific word or phrase to start a computer program.
n. the act of calling upon a deity, spirit, or person for aid; also refers to the act of initiating a program or function using a specific command or identifier.
Examples
“The programmer used a specific invocation to start the software.”
“The lawyer made a formal invocation of the law to challenge the validity of the contract.”
“In many ancient cultures, the invocation of a deity was a necessary ritual to ensure the success of a harvest or the protection of a community.”
Examples
simple
“The programmer used a specific invocation to start the software.”
contextual
“The lawyer made a formal invocation of the law to challenge the validity of the contract.”
complex
“In many ancient cultures, the invocation of a deity was a necessary ritual to ensure the success of a harvest or the protection of a community.”
Real-World Examples
“There are echoes of Thoreau in his invocations of “children getting lost in the woods, in a world without human signifiers, without signage or trails, only celestial bodies and natural forms”.” “Despite several invocations of the term “political economy,” there is minimal consideration of the individual household, or oikos , which Greek political theorists like Xenophon and Aristotle considered the basic unit of human society.” Etymology
From Middle English invocacioun, from Old French invocacion, from Latin invocatio, invocationem. Equivalent to invoke + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/invocation