Definition of INCEPTION

Examples of inception in a Sentence

The project has been shrouded in controversy from its inception.
Since its inception, the business has expanded to become a national retail chain.
We'll assist you at every stage from inception to completion.

Recent Examples of inception from the Web

This is the same knowledge that Black women have been receiving from my institution since its inception on April 11, 1881.

— mary-pat hector, Essence.com, "Spelman's Mary-Pat Hector Pens Powerful Letter To Omarosa & Donald Trump About Lack Of HBCU Funding," 12 July 2017
In the 50 years since its inception, Valérian and Laureline has had a significant influence on sci-fi, including films like The Fifth Element and the Star Wars series.

— gabrielle bellot, The Atlantic, "Science Fiction’s Under-Appreciated Feminist Icon," 8 July 2017
Saara Sabbagh, 45, for example, has been answering questions at Speed Date since its inception.

— tacey rychter, New York Times, "Looking for Empathy, Not Love, at ‘Speed Date a Muslim’," 6 July 2017
Boosted by brisk sales in tickets for Keno and for several scratch-off games, the Kentucky Lottery for the first time since its inception in 1989 has surpassed $1 billion in ticket sales for a fiscal year.

— sheldon s. shafer, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky Lottery sales surpass $1 billion for first time," 5 July 2017
Judge Brian K. Flaherty presided over the case since its inception.

— christy gutowski, chicagotribune.com, "Old DUI case finally concludes after a decade of languishing in Cook County," 27 June 2017
Since its inception, the event has raised more than $500,000 for New Hope for Kids.

— jim varsallone, miamiherald, "After never winning, Stanley C. Panther wins again at Mascot Games," 25 June 2017
Since its inception, Medicaid has been an open-ended entitlement, with Washington matching a share of what each state spends.

— Washington Post, "Medicaid is biggest consumer story in ‘Obamacare’ rollback," 23 June 2017
Since its inception in early 2016, KLiCWow has distributed almost 300 tablets and Wow Pouches to Clermont early learners.

— Cincinnati.com, "KLiCWow; donation from Westfield Insurance Foundation," 19 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inception.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of inception

Middle English incepcion, from Latin inception-, inceptio, from incipere to begin, from in- + capere to take

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

inception Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of inception

origin, source, inception, root mean the point at which something begins its course or existence. origin applies to the things or persons from which something is ultimately derived and often to the causes operating before the thing itself comes into being. an investigation into the origin of baseball source applies more often to the point where something springs into being. the source of the Nile the source of recurrent trouble inception stresses the beginning of something without implying causes. the business has been a success since its inception root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned. the real root of the violence

inception