An invention is a unique or novel device, method, composition, idea, or process. An invention may be an improvement upon a machine, product, or process for increasing efficiency or lowering …

Dec 8, 2025 · Invention, the act of bringing ideas or objects together in a novel way to create something that did not exist before. Ever since the first prehistoric stone tools, humans have …

The sense of invention most likely to be confused with innovation is “a device, contrivance, or process originated after study and experiment,” usually something which has not previously …

Mar 19, 2025 · An invention is the creation of something new, while innovation is the process of bringing that invention into practical use. Think of it this way: the light bulb was an invention, …

If you don't patent your invention, other people may make all the profit out of it. The invention of the silicon chip was a landmark in the history of the computer.

Apr 29, 2024 · An invention is a unique or novel device, method, composition, or process. It may also refer to an improvement upon a machine or product, or other technical solutions. …

There are 17 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun invention, six of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.