inception

noun

in·​cep·​tion in-ˈsep-shən 

: an act, process, or instance of beginning : commencement

a project kept secret since its inception

Synonyms of inception

• beginning
• commencement
• start
• onset
• launch
• alpha

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

From pre-war apartment building vestibules to farmhouse bathrooms to kitchen backsplashes, penny tiles have graced spaces of all kinds since their inception in the early twentieth century. —Heather Bien, The Spruce, 8 Mar. 2026

Since its inception, the foundation has invested more than $230 million in youth sports programs and served 4 million young people, according to its website. —Linh Tat, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026

Since its inception, the zoo has been on city land, with all of William Land Park on one 236-acre parcel, per the Sacramento County Assessor’s website. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026

The festival has raised more than $6 million since its inception in 2004. —Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inception

• conception
• deception
• exception
• perception
• reception
• apperception
• contraception
• interception
• misconception
• misperception
• preconception
• intussusception

Kids Definition

inception

noun

in·​cep·​tion in-ˈsep-shən 

: an act or instance of beginning