induction

noun

in·duc·tion | \ in-ˈdək-shən

Definition of induction

1a : the act or process of inducting (as into office)

b : an initial experience : initiation

c : the formality by which a civilian is inducted into military service

2a(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 preface, prologue, or introductory scene especially of an early English play

4a : the act of bringing forward or adducing something (such as facts or particulars)

b : the act of causing or bringing on or about

c : 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

d : the inspiration of the fuel-air charge from the carburetor into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine

e : the process by which the fate of embryonic cells is determined (as by the action of adjacent cells) and morphogenetic differentiation brought about

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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

Last night at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Brooklyn, Styles took to the stage to introduce honoree Stevie Nicks, while wearing a suit from Gucci’s Pre-Fall 2019 collection. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "Harry Styles Has Rockstar Swagger to Match This Music Legend," 30 Mar. 2019 Amidst the historic inductions and ceremonial proceedings, plenty of sweet moments also took place behind the scenes. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "17 Amazing Moments You Missed from the First Session of 116th Congress and Swearing-In Ceremony," 4 Jan. 2019 All the while both advocated for the induction of Hardaway, the originator of the Killer Crossover and the second-fastest player to 5,000 career points and 2,500 career assists, behind only Oscar Robertson. — Greg Bishop, SI.com, "Run TMC Lives on as the Rare Team Celebrated for Style Rather Than Record," 28 June 2018 The Kettle Moraine School District has announced the induction of Paul Hackbarth, a 2002 graduate, and Holly Lindvall, a 1994 graduate, will be this year's inductees. — Alec Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Camp Bar founder, New York Mets HR person elected to KM Laser Trailblazer Hall of Fame," 8 May 2018 South Houston saw the induction of head football coach Harry Morgan, the first Trojans head coach to land in the Hall of Fame. — Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, "PISD Athletics Hall of Fame family welcomes new group," 22 Apr. 2018 The induction healed a 15-year split between the two, which began in 1988 when Sammartino walked out over fellow wrestlers' use of steroids and WWE's outrageously over-the-top story lines. — Alex Johnson /, NBC News, "Bruno Sammartino, wrestling's original good-guy hero, dies at 82," 19 Apr. 2018 Schumacher and Pili will be among those honored at an April 24 ceremony that will include the induction of the newest Hall of Fame class. — Anchorage Daily News, "World-class skier, multi-sport star claim inaugural Hall of Fame youth awards," 12 Apr. 2018 The induction is the latest in a series of honors for Solomon in the years since Tower went out of business in 2006. — Dale Kasler, sacbee, "New national honor to be bestowed upon Tower Records founder Russ Solomon | The Sacramento Bee," 12 Apr. 2018

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

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Dictionary Entries near induction

induction accelerator

induction coil

induction compass

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Last Updated

12 Apr 2019

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Time Traveler for induction

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

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More Definitions for induction

induction

noun

English Language Learners Definition of induction

: the formal act or process of placing someone into a new job, position, government office, etc.

US : the formal act of making someone a member of the military

medical : the act of giving a pregnant woman special drugs so that she will give birth

See the full definition for induction in the English Language Learners Dictionary

induction

noun

in·duc·tion | \ in-ˈdək-shən

Kids Definition of induction

1 : the act or process of placing someone in a new job or position induction into the Hall of Fame

2 : the production of an electrical or magnetic effect through the influence of a nearby magnet, electrical current, or electrically charged body

induction

noun

in·duc·tion | \ in-ˈdək-shən

Medical Definition of induction

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

3a : 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