Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

introduction

[in-truh-duhk-shuh n]
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the act of introducing or the state of being introduced.
  2. a formal personal presentation of one person to another or others.
  3. a preliminary part, as of a book, musical composition, or the like, leading up to the main part.
  4. an elementary treatise: an introduction to botany.
  5. an act or instance of inserting.
  6. something introduced.

Origin of introduction

1350–1400; Middle English introduccion < Latin intrōductiōn- (stem of intrōductiō). See introduce, -tion
Related formsre·in·tro·duc·tion, nounself-in·tro·duc·tion, nounsub·in·tro·duc·tion, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
3. Introduction, foreword, preface refer to material given at the front of a book to explain or introduce it to the reader. A foreword is part of the front matter and is usually written by someone other than the author, often an authority on the subject of the book. A preface is the author's own statement, and often includes acknowledgments. It follows the foreword (if there is one) and is also part of the front matter. The introduction is always by the author. It may be extensive and is usually printed as part of the text.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for introduction

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • One purpose of this introduction is to prepare the reader for such a shock.

  • After much contriving, she secured an introduction to that young man.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

  • The letter of introduction being, of course, an open one, we read it.

    The Roof of France

    Matilda Betham-Edwards

  • He will carry this note himself, which is to serve as an introduction to you, with whom he longs to be acquainted.

    Lady Susan

    Jane Austen

  • Kingozi interposed in haste before the introduction of a new topic.

    The Leopard Woman

    Stewart Edward White

British Dictionary definitions for introduction

introduction

noun
  1. the act of introducing or fact of being introduced
  2. a presentation of one person to another or others
  3. a means of presenting a person to another person, group, etc, such as a letter of introduction or reference
  4. a preliminary part, as of a book, speech, etc
  5. music
    1. an instrumental passage preceding the entry of a soloist, choir, etc
    2. an opening passage in a movement or composition that precedes the main material
  6. something that has been or is introduced, esp something that is not native to an area, country, etc
  7. a basic or elementary work of instruction, reference, etc
  8. logic (qualified by the name of an operation) a syntactic rule specifying the conditions under which a formula or statement containing the specified operator may be derived from othersconjunction-introduction; negation-introduction
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for introduction

n.

late 14c., "act of bringing into existence," from Old French introduccion and directly from Latin introductionem (nominative introductio) "a leading in," noun of action from past participle stem of introducere "to lead in, bring in, to introduce," from intro- "inward, to the inside" (see intro-) + ducere "to lead" (see duke (n.)). Meaning "initial instruction in a subject; an introductory statement" is mid-15c. The sense of "formal presentation of one person to another" is from 1711.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper