incarnation

noun

in·​car·​na·​tion ˌin-(ˌ)kär-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce incarnation (audio)
1
: the act of incarnating : the state of being incarnate
2
: a particular physical form or state : version
in another incarnation he might be a first vice-presidentWalter Teller
TV and movie incarnations of the story
3
a
: a concrete or actual form of a quality or concept
especially : a person showing a trait or typical character to a marked degree
she is the incarnation of goodness
b(1)
capitalized : the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ
(2)
: the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form
incarnational adjective

Examples of incarnation in a Sentence

the doctrine of the Incarnation she is the very incarnation of grace and tactfulness
Recent Examples on the Web Note: In the Naked and Famous’ original incarnation, the smoky mezcal and lime juice can be overpowering. Jeff Burkhart, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024 Downtown offers numerous overnight options including a new-style Marriott Residence Inn in the Beltline neighborhood, a place that feels and acts much more like an upscale urban boutique hotel than its older incarnation. Joe Yogerst, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 The Ninth Ward School was not always designated for Black children, and the name itself was applied to several campuses over the years before its final incarnation at 1815 Cold Springs Road. Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Feb. 2024 In its first incarnation, Moti Mahal was a large, open‐air dining spot in Old Delhi where guests could go into the primitive kitchen and watch the food being cooked. Suhasini Raj Anindito Mukherjee, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024 Their underlying contention is that the Supreme Court is good, even, or perhaps especially, in its current incarnation. Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2024 And yet, even in its modern incarnation, the city still has tillers – from street vendors to artisans to bakers. Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Feb. 2024 Its modern incarnation goes back to the late 1950s, said Stephanie Alice Baker, who researches health and wellness cultures at City University in the UK. Laura Paddison, CNN, 4 Feb. 2024 Along with many of its sister malls, the Westside Pavilion’s shopping incarnation dwindled away, and in 2019, Google signed a 14-year lease. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incarnation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b(2)

Time Traveler
The first known use of incarnation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near incarnation

Cite this Entry

“Incarnation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incarnation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

incarnation

noun
in·​car·​na·​tion ˌin-ˌkär-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce incarnation (audio)
1
: the appearance of a god or spirit in an earthly form
2
capitalized : the union of divine and human natures in Jesus Christ
3
: an actual instance of a quality or concept
she was the incarnation of goodness

More from Merriam-Webster on incarnation

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