inflection Definition
- 1a change in the form of a word that reflects a grammatical distinction, such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender
- 2the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice
Using inflection: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "inflection" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
In English, verbs inflect to show past tense by adding -ed.
Example
The inflection of the voice can convey different emotions.
Example
Nouns in Latin inflect to show case, such as nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, ablative, and vocative.
inflection Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for inflection
Phrases with inflection
a point of significant change or turning point in a situation or process
Example
The company's decision to invest in new technology marked an inflection point in their growth trajectory.
an affix added to the base form of a word to indicate its grammatical function, such as -s for plural nouns or -ed for past tense verbs
Example
In the word 'walked,' '-ed' is an inflectional ending indicating past tense.
the modulation of pitch or intonation in speech to convey meaning or emotion
Example
Her tone inflection suggested she was being sarcastic.
Origins of inflection
from Latin 'inflectere', meaning 'to bend in'
Summary: inflection in Brief
Inflection [in-flek-shuhn] refers to a change in the form of a word that reflects a grammatical distinction, such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender. It also refers to the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice. Examples include verbs inflecting to show past tense and the inflection of the voice conveying different emotions.
