inflection

noun

in·​flec·​tion in-ˈflek-shən 

1

: change in pitch or loudness of the voice

2

a

: the change of form that words undergo to mark such distinctions as those of case, gender, number, tense, person, mood, or voice

b

: a form, suffix, or element involved in such variation

c

: accidence

3

: the act or result of curving or bending : bend

4

a

: change in curvature of an arc or curve from concave to convex or conversely

b

: inflection point

Did you know?

Changing the pitch, tone, or loudness of our words are ways we communicate meaning in speech, though not on the printed page. A rising inflection at the end of a sentence generally indicates a question, and a falling inflection indicates a statement, for example. Another way of inflecting words is by adding endings: -s to make a noun plural, -ed to put a verb in the past tense, -er to form the comparative form of an adjective, and so on.

Synonyms

• angle
• arc
• arch
• bend
• bow
• crook
• curvature
• curve
• turn
• wind

Examples of inflection in a Sentence

She spoke with no inflection.

She read the lines with an upward inflection.

Most English adjectives do not require inflection.

“Gone” and “went” are inflections of the verb “go.”

English has fewer inflections than many other languages.

Recent Examples on the Web

Erivo brings her own inflections and depth to the role, portraying a character who, despite her undeniable powers, feels forever out of place in Oz. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024

In a sketch mocking Céline Dion’s recent, inexplicable promo for Sunday Night Football, the chameleonic chanteuse absolutely nails Dion’s French Canadian accent, inflections, vocal tics, and confidence. —Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2024

Kolodny has rounded up an extraordinarily committed cast of actors, whose mannerisms and inflections are sharpened and roughened, tuned and inflected to feel like archeological rediscoveries of behaviors past. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2024

She’s just delivered another round of notes, asking the kids to change their inflection here, try a new line there — and most importantly, have fun while doing it. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing inflection

• inflection point
• point of inflection

Kids Definition

inflection

noun

in·​flec·​tion in-ˈflek-shən 

1

: a change in the pitch or tone of a person's voice

2

: the change in the form of a word showing its case, gender, number, person, tense, mood, voice, or comparison

inflectional

-shnəl

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

inflection

noun

in·​flec·​tion

variants or chiefly British inflexion

in-ˈflek-shən 

: the act or result of curving or bending