induction

noun

in·​duc·​tion in-ˈdək-shən How to pronounce induction (audio)
1
a
: the act or process of inducting (as into office)
b
: the formality by which a civilian is inducted into military service
c
: an initial experience : initiation
2
a(1)
: inference of a generalized conclusion from particular instances compare deduction sense 2a
(2)
: a conclusion arrived at by induction
b
: mathematical demonstration of the validity of a law concerning all the positive integers by proving that it holds for the integer 1 and that if it holds for an arbitrarily chosen positive integer k, it must hold for the integer k + 1

called also mathematical induction

3
a
: the process by which an electrical conductor becomes electrified when near a charged body, by which a magnetizable body becomes magnetized when in a magnetic field or in the magnetic flux set up by a magnetomotive force, or by which an electromotive force is produced in a circuit by varying the magnetic field linked with the circuit
b
: the inspiration of the fuel-air charge from the carburetor into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine
c
: the process by which the fate of embryonic cells is determined (as by the action of adjacent cells) and morphogenetic differentiation brought about
4
a
: the act of bringing forward or adducing something (such as facts or particulars)
b
: the act of causing or bringing on or about
5
: a preface, prologue, or introductory scene especially of an early English play

Examples of induction in a Sentence

Many people attended the bishop's induction. The induction ceremony was held at a banquet hall. the registration and induction of draftees
Recent Examples on the Web Nate Newton, a three-time Super Bowl Champion guard with the Dallas Cowboys, was among 11 inductees into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame as part of a 2024 class that included the posthumous induction of former Star-Telegram sports columnist Roger B. Brown. Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2024 If there were a fast food chicken wing hall of fame, Wingstop would be celebrating its induction right about now. Angela L. Pagán / The Takeout, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2024 Photo : David Shepherd, courtesy of Land Rover A carbon-fiber hood caps the blunt prow, with enlarged apertures for induction and brake cooling. Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2024 Conley defended Flynn’s induction to the Hall of Fame in an opinion piece in the Providence Journal. Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024 The energy harvester is clamped around a wire carrying current, and uses electromagnetic induction to harvest energy from the magnetic field produced by the current. IEEE Spectrum, 15 Feb. 2024 Nelson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame late last year, with Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, and fellow inductee Sheryl Crow taking the stage for his induction. Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2024 In January 2022, Liza published an open letter to the Rock Hall asking for Sinéad’s induction. Spin Staff, SPIN, 23 Feb. 2024 Foreigner is one of 15 nominees announced last week, for what are likely to be seven or eight slots available for Hall induction. Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of induction was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near induction

Cite this Entry

“Induction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/induction. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

induction

noun
in·​duc·​tion in-ˈdək-shən How to pronounce induction (audio)
1
a
: the act or process of inducting (as into office)
b
: a first experience of something : initiation
c
: the procedure by which a civilian is inducted into military service
2
: reasoning from particular examples to a general conclusion
3
a
: the act of causing or bringing on or about
b
: the process of producing an electrical or magnetic effect through the influence of a nearby magnet, electric current, or electrically charged body

Medical Definition

induction

noun
in·​duc·​tion in-ˈdək-shən How to pronounce induction (audio)
1
: the act of causing or bringing on or about
induction of labor
specifically : the establishment of the initial state of anesthesia often with an agent other than that used subsequently to maintain the anesthetic state
2
: the process by which an electrical conductor becomes electrified when near a charged body, by which a magnetizable body becomes magnetized when in a magnetic field or in the magnetic flux set up by a magnetomotive force, or by which an electromotive force is produced in a circuit by varying the magnetic field linked with the circuit
3
a
: arousal of a part or area (as of the retina) by stimulation of an adjacent part or area
b
: the process by which the fate of embryonic cells is determined (as by the action of adjacent cells) and morphogenetic differentiation brought about
induct transitive verb

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