concoction

noun

con·​coc·​tion kən-ˈkäk-shən 

kän-

plural concoctions

1

: something (such as a food or drink) that is concocted from various elements : something prepared or devised by combining different ingredients

an elaborate concoction

This concoction is a cross between hot chocolate and a grasshopper, a mixed drink that gets its minty kick from crème de menthe.

—Kim Steckler

… the disc offers quite an unusual concoction of old and new songs that are surprisingly cohesive.

—Jon Hetman

2

: the act of process of concocting something

One of these young men had a rare faculty in the concoction of gin-cocktails.

—Nathaniel Hawthorne

Synonyms

• brainchild
• coinage
• contrivance
• creation
• innovation
• invention
• wrinkle

Examples of concoction in a Sentence

the first submarine must have seemed like a wild concoction at the time

Recent Examples on the Web

No cake was left out of the picture—from elaborate multi-layer concoctions to classic sheet cakes. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2025

Hard Rock now offers The Ol’ 8, a vodka and Campari concoction inspired by Earnhardt himself. —Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

This concoction of shredded beef in tomato sauce is believed by some to be a precursor to the American Sloppy Joe. —Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025

The eleven cocktails and two non-alcoholic concoctions were all designed by Lebedevitch, each one showcasing her position as one of the best drink designers in the city. —Colin Wrenn, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for concoction

• decoction
• auction