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

With jazz and soul inflections, her music has established her as a perennial force in contemporary R&B, earning her 11 Grammy nominations including one win for best traditional R&B performance in 2021. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 9 Feb. 2025

The entire weekend had this Silicon Valley inflection, based on interviews and attendance at a half-dozen events. —Jason Andrew, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025

Unlike traditional text-to-speech programs, which often sound robotic and emotionless, this new technology mimics Nussbaum's voice accurately, capturing his distinct tone, pacing, and inflections. —Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025

Voice cloning technology: Using just a few seconds of recorded audio, AI tools can replicate a person’s voice, complete with intonation and emotional inflections. —Chris Westfall, Forbes, 29 Nov. 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