inception
Americannoun
-
beginning; start; commencement.
- Synonyms:
- conception, root, source, outset, origin
-
British.
-
the act of graduating or earning a university degree, usually a master's or doctor's degree, especially at Cambridge University.
-
the graduation ceremony; commencement.
-
-
(in science fiction) the act of instilling an idea into someone's mind by entering their dreams.
noun
Etymology
Origin of inception
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English incepcion, from Latin inceptiōn- (stem of inceptiō ), equivalent to incept(us) “begun” ( see incept) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
The inception is the beginning. Since its inception, Wikipedia has been created by its users. Inception sounds like conception, but their meanings are distinct. Conception usually refers to the moment of becoming pregnant. Inception refers more to the beginning, to entering upon an undertaking. Inception implies the start of a specific thing like a campaign or a company. Subsequent events take place after the inception. At the moment of conception, most women are at the inception of motherhood.
Vocabulary lists containing inception
"The Hill We Climb," by Amanda Gorman
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
I'm New Here...
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Mahatma Gandhi's "Quit India" Speech
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Situational Awareness gained about 270% after fees this year through May and is up over 1,000% after fees since inception.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
Since its inception, Creative Wales has provided production support funding to 81 productions and the resulting economic spending has been nearly half a billion pounds.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
Issuance of international debt denominated in euro reached its highest level since the currency’s inception, the ECB said, and the euro became the leading currency in the green and sustainable international bond market.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
Precise investigations of decays like this are one of the primary goals of the LHCb experiment, and have been since its inception in 1994.
From Science Daily • May 26, 2026
Andrea herself, one of Death-Cast’s top reps since their inception seven years ago, has made her fair share of End Day calls.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
