Meanings
plural instantiations
- uncountableThe production of an instance, example, or specific application of a general classification, principle, theory, etc.
- countableSomething resulting from the act of instantiating; an instance.
I can name numerous instantiations of this gift of luck at work in my hostʼs life.
2019, Chigozie Obioma, An Orchestra of Minorities, Abacus (2019), page 150
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
- Latinīnstāns“urgent”
- Medieval Latinīnstantia“a being near, presence; also perseverance, earnestness, importunity, urgency”
- Middle Englishinstance
- Englishinstantiation
A coinage of the twentieth century, from instantiate + -ion, itself coined in 1946 from instance + -ate. The latter, in the sense "a case, an example", from Middle English instance, from Medieval Latin īnstantia (“a being near, presence; also perseverance, earnestness, importunity, urgency”), from Latin īnstāns (“urgent”); see English instant.
More words from Middle English, Medieval Latin, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French instanciation
- instanciationsomething resulting from the act of instantiating
German Instanziierung
- Instanziierungsomething resulting from the act of instantiating
Icelandic eintekning, eintökun
- eintekningsomething resulting from the act of instantiating
- eintökunsomething resulting from the act of instantiating
Swedish instansiering
- instansieringsomething resulting from the act of instantiating
Turkish örnekleme
- örneklemesomething resulting from the act of instantiating
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with instantiation
Cite this entry
instantiation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/instantiation
“instantiation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/instantiation. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “instantiation,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/instantiation.
Source: instantiation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.