Added 9 October 2026
instantiation
/ɪnˌstænʃiˈeɪʃən/ noun
Latin root: īnstantia Coined: 1946 Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about instantiation at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- The production of an instance, example, or specific application of a general classification, principle, theory, etc.
- Something resulting from the act of instantiating; an instance.
- A creation of an instance of some class or template.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)