incipient

adjective

in·​cip·​i·​ent in-ˈsi-pē-ənt How to pronounce incipient (audio)
: beginning to come into being or to become apparent
an incipient solar system
evidence of incipient racial tension
incipiently adverb

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Incipient... incipient... where to begin? Well, there’s its meaning for one: incipient describes something that is beginning to come into being or to become apparent, as in “the incipient stages of the process.” And of course a good starting point for any investigation of incipient is also the Latin verb incipere, which means “to begin.” Incipient emerged in English in the 17th century, appearing in both religious and scientific contexts, as in “incipient grace” and “incipient putrefaction.” Later came the genesis of two related nouns, incipiency and incipience, both of which are synonymous with beginning. Incipere’s influence is also visible at the beginning of the words inception (“an act, process, or instance of beginning”) and incipit, a term that in Latin literally means “it begins” and which refers in English to the opening words of a medieval manuscript or early printed book.

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Insipid vs. Incipient

There are those who claim that these two words are commonly confused, though the collected evidence in our files doesn’t support that claim (in edited prose, that is). If there is confusion, it is likely because incipient is sometimes used in constructions where its meaning is not clear.

Insipid is less common than incipient, but it is used more in general prose and with much more clarity than incipient is. Insipid means “weak,” and it can refer to people (“insipid hangers-on”), things (“what an insipid idea,” “painted the room an insipid blue,” “he gave his boss an insipid smile”), and specifically flavors or foods (“an insipid soup,” “the cocktail was insipid and watery”).

Incipient, on the other hand, is more common than insipid is and means “beginning to come into being or become apparent.” It has general use (“an incipient idea,” “incipient racial tensions”), but also has extensive specialized use in medicine (“an incipient disease”) and other scientific fields (“an incipient star in a distant galaxy”). But general use of incipient is sometime vague at best:

But devaluing grand slams to 3 1/2 runs has irked even the guys it was meant to pacify. "They're messing with the game," says incipient slugger Randy Johnson (three grannies already this spring). "Not to mention my RBI totals."
ESPN, 14 June 1999

Among my generation of aesthetes, bohemians, proto-dropouts, and incipient eternal students at Sydney University in the late 1950s, Robert Hughes was the golden boy.
— Clive James, The New York Review, 11 Jan. 2007

This menu looks traditional but embraces ingredients and ideas that have become incipient classics in American cuisine, such as portobello mushrooms, fresh mozzarella and mango.
— Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, 30 Nov. 1995

Incipient is rarely used of people, and so the first example is an atypical use of the word. As for the other examples, can something that is just beginning to emerge be eternal, or a classic? Uses like this tend to confuse the reader.

If you find yourself unsure of which word to use, follow the rule that when referring to someone or something weak, use insipid, and when referring to something that is newly apparent or newly begun, use incipient.

Examples of incipient in a Sentence

The project is still in its incipient stages. I have an incipient dislike and distrust of that guy, and I only met him this morning.
Recent Examples on the Web Economists point to the inherent flaws of central planning and the government’s reluctance to partner with an ambitious if incipient private sector. Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 While not necessarily incipient, this movement, reminiscent of the algorithmic trading revolution that redefined public markets, is set to revolutionize venture capital. Douglas B. Laney, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 McConnell’s willingness to complain publicly about Trump now, alas, is the tell—not a sign of an incipient battle for the soul of the Party but of a fight that has already been lost. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2024 Suspicions by some in the lower area that some organizers and players in the upper had retained gang affiliations led to a police investigation, sapping the incipient reserves of trust between both sides built up over the past year. Whitney Eulich, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Feb. 2024 The second implication is that icy-moon oceans need not be ancient and enduring; some could be incipient, transient seas. Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Feb. 2024 These incipient grooves are almost immediately waylaid by fresh alarms and excursions. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024 Expectations of below-normal draws throughout December as a result of milder-than-usual temperatures have limited incipient price rallies from last week’s six-month lows. WSJ, 21 Dec. 2023 To publicly stand behind a man accused of domestic violence during the incipient stages of your relationship is questionable. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 20 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incipient.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin incipient-, incipiens, present participle of incipere to begin — more at inception

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incipient was in 1633

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Dictionary Entries Near incipient

Cite this Entry

“Incipient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incipient. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

incipient

adjective
in·​cip·​i·​ent in-ˈsip-ē-ənt How to pronounce incipient (audio)
: beginning to come into being or to become apparent
the incipient light of day
incipiently adverb

Medical Definition

incipient

adjective
in·​cip·​i·​ent -ənt How to pronounce incipient (audio)
: beginning to come into being or to become apparent
the incipient stage of a fever
incipiently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on incipient

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