initiation

[ih-nish-ee-ey-shuhn]

noun

1. formal admission or acceptance into an organization or club, adult status in one's community or society, etc.

2. the ceremonies or rites of admission.

3. the act of initiating.

4. the fact of being initiated.

initiation

/ ɪˌnɪʃɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of initiating or the condition of being initiated

2. the often secret ceremony initiating new members into an organization

Other Word Forms

• preinitiation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of initiation¹

First recorded in 1575–85, initiation is from the Latin word initiātiōn- (stem of initiātiō ). See initiate, -ion

Example Sentences

Members can join for an initiation fee starting at $5,000, plus monthly dues of at least $425, depending on membership tier.

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Its roots lie in the medieval stonemasons' guilds, and members still meet in "lodges" to carry out secretive initiation rituals and ceremonies based on allegories such as the building of King Solomon's Temple.

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"My mind goes all over the place wondering what happened. People suggest organ trafficking. I've even thought of gang activity. Is it something they're required to do as an initiation?"

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The hospital earlier this month had paused the initiation of hormonal therapy for “gender affirming care patients” under the age of 19 as hospital officials assessed an executive order issued by President Trump.

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Who failed their initiation ceremony and who tapes their mouth up to sleep?

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Related Words

• baptism 
• commencement 
• inauguration 
• inception 
• induction