Definition
something newly created or designed that didn't exist before; the act of creating something new.
Etymology
From Latin 'inventio,' based on 'invenire' (to find or discover), combining 'in-' (in) and 'venire' (to come). The word originally meant 'finding' or 'discovering' before it took on the sense of creating something new.
Kelly Says
The word 'invention' comes from 'to find,' not 'to create'—which reflects a fascinating historical truth: many important inventions were 'found' through accident (like penicillin or vulcanized rubber) rather than deliberately designed from scratch.
Translations
ARالعربية
اختراع
i-kht-ra-a'
BNবাংলা
আবিষ্কার
a-bi-shkar
CACatalà
invenció
in-ven-thee-o
CSČeština
vymyslí
vym-ys-li
DADansk
opfindelse
op-fin-del-se
DEDeutsch
Erfindung
er-fin-dung
ELΕλληνικά
εφεύρεση
ef-e-v-re-se
ESEspañol
invención
in-ven-thee-on
FAفارسی
اختراع
i-kht-ra-a'
FISuomi
keksintö
keks-in-to
FRFrançais
invention
in-ven-tion
HIहिन्दी
आविष्कार
a-vish-kar
HUMagyar
feltalálás
felt-a-la-las
IDBahasa Indonesia
penemuan
pe-ne-mu-an
ITItaliano
invenzione
in-ven-tsee-one
KKKK
i-n-v-e-n-t-i-y-a
i-n-v-e-n-t-i-y-a
KMKM
ការប្រឌិត
ka-ra-pra-dit
MSBahasa Melayu
penemuan
pe-ne-mu-an
NLNederlands
uitvinding
oot-vin-ding
NONorsk
oppfinnelse
op-fin-nel-se
PLPolski
wynalazek
v-na-la-zek
PTPortuguês
invenção
in-ven-sao
RORomână
invenție
in-ven-tie
RUРусский
изобретение
iz-o-bre-te-niye
SVSvenska
uppfinning
up-fin-ning
SWKiswahili
ujumbe
oo-jum-be
TAதமிழ்
மேற்கூறிய
me-rek-koo-ree-ya
TEతెలుగు
ఆవిష్కరణ
a-vish-kar-na
THไทย
การประดิษฐ์
gaan-pra-dit
TLTL
imbentyon
im-ben-tyo-n
UKУкраїнська
винахід
vi-nach-id
VITiếng Việt
sự phát minh
su-fa-t min-h
ZUZU
ukuthengisa
koo-theng-ee-sa
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Patent and credit systems historically excluded or erased women inventors (Hedy Lamarr, Margaret Knight); male colleagues and husbands often received attribution.
Inclusive Usage
Actively credit women inventors; audit historical attribution for erasure.
Empowerment Note
Women invented frequency-hopping (wireless), the electric starter motor, and countless medicines; deliberate historical recovery restores their rightful place.