conception
Meaning of conception: Conception marks the biological beginning of pregnancy, occurring when a sperm cell fertilizes an egg to form a single new cell.
Definition of conception
Conception refers to the beginning of pregnancy, the point at which a sperm cell fertilizes an egg to form a single new cell capable of developing into an embryo. This fertilized cell then begins dividing repeatedly as it travels toward the uterus, where it will normally implant in the uterine lining a short time later.
The timing of conception depends on ovulation, the release of an egg from the ovary, since fertilization can only occur while an egg is available and viable. Because ovulation and fertilization both occur internally, the precise moment of conception is not directly observable and is typically estimated rather than measured.
Conception is distinguished from implantation, the subsequent step in which the developing cluster of cells attaches to the uterine lining, a distinction that matters when discussing exactly when pregnancy is considered to begin from a clinical or biological standpoint.
Used in a sentence
The estimated date of conception was used to help calculate the expected due date.
Good to know
Conception and implantation are distinct events separated by several days, a distinction that matters because pregnancy is sometimes defined from one point and sometimes from the other, depending on the context.