indoctrinate

verb

in·​doc·​tri·​nate in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnāt 

indoctrinated; indoctrinating

transitive verb

1

: to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle

2

: to instruct especially in fundamentals or rudiments : teach

indoctrination

(ˌ)in-ˌdäk-trə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

indoctrinator

in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

Indoctrinate means "brainwash" to many people, but its meaning isn't always so negative. When the verb first appeared in English in the 17th century, it simply meant "to teach"—a meaning linked closely to its source, the Latin verb docēre, which also means "to teach." (Other offspring of docēre include docile, doctor, document, and, of course, doctrine). By the 19th century, indoctrinate was being used in the sense of teaching someone to fully accept only the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of a particular group.

Synonyms

• educate
• instruct
• lesson
• school
• teach
• train
• tutor

Examples of indoctrinate in a Sentence

The goal should be to teach politics, rather than to indoctrinate students in a narrow set of political beliefs.

indoctrinated children in proper safety procedures

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the four episodes, viewers get a firsthand look at what can happen when a teenager is indoctrinated with toxic messages about masculinity. —Samantha Mann, Parents, 8 Apr. 2025

As his teachings take a harrowing turn towards violence, Rena witnesses the transformation of devoted followers into ruthless killers, indoctrinated to carry out brutal acts. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025

From a very early age I was indoctrinated into all of this. —Eric Ryan, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025

Texas and Florida have already placed even stricter limits on academic content seen as biased or indoctrinating. —Emma Green, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from Middle English endoctrinen, from Anglo-French endoctriner, from en- + doctrine doctrine

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for indoctrinate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

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Kids Definition

indoctrinate

verb

in·​doc·​tri·​nate in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnāt 

indoctrinated; indoctrinating

1

: instruct sense 1, teach

2

: to teach the ideas, opinions, or beliefs of a particular group

indoctrination

(ˌ)in-ˌdäk-trə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

indoctrinator

in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnāt-ər 

noun