initiation

noun

ini·​ti·​a·​tion i-ˌni-shē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce initiation (audio)
Synonyms of initiation
1
a
: the act or an instance of initiating
b
: the process of being initiated
c
: the rites, ceremonies, ordeals, or instructions with which one is made a member of a sect or society or is invested with a particular function or status
2
: the condition of being initiated into some experience or sphere of activity : knowledgeableness

Synonyms of initiation

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of initiation in a Sentence

his initiation as a member of the club crimes committed as part of gang initiations the initiation of judicial proceedings
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The bullish call followed a Barclays initiation and $211 price target on Monday. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026 And paying the roughly $1 million initiation fee and annual dues of about $44,000 don’t either. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026 Lisbeth gets invited to some sort of costume party, where a dance-team initiation goes very wrong. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026 Members are charged a $10,000 annual fee, plus a $5,000 initiation fee, according to company materials reviewed by Fortune. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for initiation

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of initiation was in 1583

Phrases Containing initiation

Rhymes for initiation

See All Rhymes for initiation

Browse Nearby Words

initiate
initiation
initiation rite
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Initiation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/initiation. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

initiation

noun
ini·​ti·​a·​tion in-ˌish-ē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce initiation (audio)
1
: the act of initiating : the process of being initiated : introduction
2
: the ceremonies with which a person is made a member of a club or society
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All