Conception is an census-designated place in eastern Nodaway County, Missouri, United States. It is located about eleven miles southeast of Maryville on U.S. Route 136. It is very near Conception Junction, Missouri. Conception is home to Conception Abbey.Conception was originally built up chiefly by Irish Catholics. The community was named for the Catholic dogma of Immaculate Conception. A post office called Conception has been in operation since 1864. Conception has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.