initiation

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noun ini·ti·a·tion \ i-ˌni-shē-ˈā-shən \

Definition of initiation

1 a :the act or an instance of initiating

b :the process of being initiated

c :the rites, ceremonies, ordeals, or instructions with which one is made a member of a sect or society or is invested with a particular function or status

2 :the condition of being initiated into some experience or sphere of activity :knowledgeableness

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See initiation defined for kids

Examples of initiation in a Sentence

his initiation as a member of the club
crimes committed as part of gang initiations
the initiation of judicial proceedings

Recent Examples of initiation from the Web

Westminster received its official initiation to the eight-man game Saturday in a 44-16 loss to Wisconsin Heights.

— gene chamberlain, Elgin Courier-News, "Chamberlain: Eight is enough for Jason Yaccino and Westminster Christian," 27 Aug. 2017
After Trump's election, the club also doubled the initiation fee for new members, from $100,000 to $200,000.

— drew harwell, Washington Post, "17th charity cancels its event at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, blaming ‘political turbulence’," 22 Aug. 2017
Like all well-meaning corporate initiations, this year’s event followed a theme that included a clever acronym: Be a PRO.

— rohan nadkarni, SI.com, "First-Year Players Learn to be a PRO at Rookie Transition Program," 17 Aug. 2017
They were quoted initiation fees between $75,000 and $100,000, in addition to $22,100 in annual dues, according to written correspondence.

— john wagner and elise viebeck, chicagotribune.com, "Trump begins 17-day 'working vacation' at his New Jersey golf club," 5 Aug. 2017
In the last few days, football lovers have been exposed to Swansea's initiation process with new recruits having to perform a song of their choice.

— SI.com, "VIDEO: Swansea New Boy Roque Mesa's Initiation Performance Is Pretty Special," 19 July 2017
According to my uncle, by 1948, my grandfather was an elite member of the KMT Youth League, being groomed for initiation into higher political circles, namely, that of President Chiang Kai-shek.

— karissa chen, Longreads, "My Grandfather’s Fateful Goodbye, Reimagined," 8 July 2017
There is no factual basis available from the township which support an assertion that a TIF will accelerate the initiation let alone the completion of phase II.

— Cincinnati.com, "Column: Rumpke can pay for its own road," 5 July 2017
Mar-a-Lago doubled its initiation fee to $200,000 after the election.

— drew harwell, Washington Post, "The banquet business was booming at Mar-a-Lago. Then Trump became president.," 23 June 2017

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

First Known Use of initiation

1583

initiation Synonyms

Synonyms

baptism, inaugural, inauguration, induction, installation, installment (also instalment), investiture, investment

Related Words

enlistment, enrollment (also enrolment); promotion

Near Antonyms

discharge, removal

INITIATION Defined for English Language Learners

initiation

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noun

Definition of initiation for English Language Learners

: the process of being formally accepted as a member of a group or organization : the process of being initiated
: a ceremony or series of actions that makes a person a member of a group or organization
: the act of starting something : the beginning of something