invocation
noun
in·vo·ca·tion
ˌin-və-ˈkā-shən 
1
a
: the act or process of petitioning for help or support
specifically, often capitalized
: a prayer of entreaty (as at the beginning of a service of worship)
b
: a calling upon for authority or justification
2
: a formula for conjuring : incantation
3
: an act of legal or moral implementation : enforcement
Examples of invocation in a Sentence
his repeated invocations of the ancient philosophers
justifying his position by invocation of the past
The poem begins with an invocation of the Muses.
They began the meeting with an invocation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Microsoft has integrated a2a support into Azure AI Foundry and enabled a2a agent invocation through Copilot Studio.
—
Janakiram Msv, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
The invocation of an actual legend and martyr of the sport—Senna died in 1994, after a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix—is meant to supply a jolt of gravitas.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
When Napoleon insists on Antonin serving a dessert in the form of a pyramid — a bald-faced invocation of the war between France and England, and a provocation to the English ambassador, who is theoretically the guest of honor — Antonin duly wheels one into the dining room.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 11 June 2025
Take Claes Oldenburg’s almost nostalgic invocation in 1969 of the famous Chrysler 1937 Airflow, one of the first cars to have been designed according to the laws of aerodynamics.
—Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for invocation
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Janakiram Msv, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
The invocation of an actual legend and martyr of the sport—Senna died in 1994, after a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix—is meant to supply a jolt of gravitas.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
When Napoleon insists on Antonin serving a dessert in the form of a pyramid — a bald-faced invocation of the war between France and England, and a provocation to the English ambassador, who is theoretically the guest of honor — Antonin duly wheels one into the dining room.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 11 June 2025
Take Claes Oldenburg’s almost nostalgic invocation in 1969 of the famous Chrysler 1937 Airflow, one of the first cars to have been designed according to the laws of aerodynamics.
—Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for invocation
Cite this Entry
“Invocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invocation. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
invocation
noun
in·vo·ca·tion
ˌin-və-ˈkā-shən
1
a
: the act or process of asking for help or support
b
: a prayer for blessing or guidance (as at the beginning of a religious service)
2
: a formula for calling forth spirits or performing magic : incantation
Legal Definition
invocation
noun
in·vo·ca·tion
ˌin-və-ˈkā-shən
1
: a calling upon for authority or justification
2
: an act of legal implementation
an invocation of the contract clause
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