Definition

A variation in the form of a word to express different grammatical features, such as tense, mood, voice, aspect, person, number, gender, and case.

Example

Inflexion in language can change the meaning of a word depending on its grammatical context.

Conversation

Have you ever noticed the inflexion in her voice when she gets excited?

Yeah, it's really interesting how it changes the mood of the conversation.

I think it makes her sound more engaging, don't you?

Absolutely! It adds so much character to her speech.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Inflexion → It is formed from "in-" (meaning not) and "flectere" (meaning to bend). The word refers to a change in the form of a word, often indicating grammatical relationships, which can be thought of as bending the word's structure.

Memory Tip

Think of 'bending' ('flectere') something 'not' ('in-') to its original form — that's why inflexion means a change in the form of a word.

Visually Confused Words