Conjuration is a noun with a few closely related but distinct meanings in magic and the supernatural. It can refer to a deceptiveintended to make people believe something false or misleading trick that looks magical, a spoken formula used in rituala fixed set of actions done in a formal religious or ceremonial way magic, or the act of summoningcalling someone or something to appear, often by special means a spirit.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˌkɑndʒəˈreɪʃən/
Easy pronunciation: kon-juh-RAY-shun (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the third syllable, RAY.
Primary sense: an illusory feat that seems like real magic.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Conjuration Meaning
a trick that looks like real magic
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers
Example: The coin vanished in what looked like a clever conjuration.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- conjuring trick — Direct match for a magical-looking trick.
- magic trick — A common everyday substitute for a deceptive trick performed as magic.
- illusion — Works when the emphasis is on the misleading appearance, though it is broader than the word.
- trick — Works in general, but is less specific than the target word.
- legerdemain — A real synonym in formal usage, but much more literary and less common.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Conjuration
Meaning 2
a spoken spell or magical formula
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to have a magical effect
Example: The book described the conjuration used to protect the village.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- incantation — The clearest direct synonym for this sense.
Meaning 3
the act of summoning a spirit
Part of speech: noun
Definition: calling up a spirit or devil
Example: The novel begins with a forbidden conjuration of a ghost.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- conjuring — A direct synonym in this supernatural sense.
- conjury — A close synonym in older or more formal usage.
- invocation — Can fit when the meaning is summoning by ritual, though it is broader and not always supernatural.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Conjuration Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- conjuring trick
- magic trick
- illusion
- trick
- legerdemain
a spoken spell or magical formula
- incantation
the act of summoning a spirit
- conjuring
- conjury
- invocation
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse conjuration as a magic trick with conjuration as a spell or as summoning a spirit.
- Conjuration is not usually the same as 'conjuring' in the general sense of performing magic unless the spirit-summoning meaning is intended.
- 'Invocation' is not always a perfect match; it can mean a formal appeal or request, not only supernatural summoning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does conjuration mean?
Conjuration usually means either a magic trick, a spoken magical formula, or the summoning of a spirit.
Is conjuration the same as incantation?
Only in the sense of a spoken magical formula. Incantation does not mean a trick or spirit summoning.
What is a simple synonym for conjuration?
For the most common everyday sense, a good simple synonym is magic trick.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
