Standard Lemma guide

instantiation

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ɪnˌstænʃiˈeɪʃən/
  • rhymes with -eɪʃən
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N S T AE2 N SH IY0 EY1 SH AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The production of an instance, example, or specific application of a general classification, principle, theory, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Something resulting from the act of instantiating; an instance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A creation of an instance of some class or template.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable

Qualifier: object-oriented programming

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a representation of an idea in the form of an instance of it

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • how many instantiations were found?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: representation, mental representation, internal representation

History

Etymology

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.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: instanciation — something resulting from the act of instantiating
  • German: Instanziierung — something resulting from the act of instantiating
  • Icelandic: eintekning — something resulting from the act of instantiating
  • Icelandic: eintökun — something resulting from the act of instantiating
  • Swedish: instansiering — something resulting from the act of instantiating
  • Turkish: örnekleme — something resulting from the act of instantiating