inception

American  

[in-sep-shuhn] / ɪnˈsɛp ʃən /

noun

• inceptions
  plural

1. beginning; start; commencement.

   Synonyms:

   conception, root, source, outset, origin

2. British.

   1. the act of graduating or earning a university degree, usually a master's or doctor's degree, especially at Cambridge University.

   2. the graduation ceremony; commencement.

3. (in science fiction) the act of instilling an idea into someone's mind by entering their dreams.

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inception British  

/ ɪnˈsɛpʃən /

noun

1. the beginning, as of a project or undertaking

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• inceptions
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inception inceptions

"We further call on the secretary of state to instigate a long overdue comprehensive examination of the commission's internal decision-making processes, which since its inception, have often lacked credibility, accountability and transparency."

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Before the humiliating collapse, Aschenbrenner’s fund had shown phenomenal returns of more than 1000% since its inception in 2024.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

"Since the inception of this project, our idea has met with repeated doubt and pushback," said Li.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026

Mr. Rubio states that at its inception the ICC was proposed as a backstop against the gravest crimes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

Rather, from its inception, it was designed to be a containment zone.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

While Fleiss has been the face of the “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette” and other spinoffs since the shows’ inceptions, trade publications report he hasn’t led day-to-day operations in around a decade.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 28, 2023

Open—has been intimately involved in both projects since their inceptions earlier in the decade.

From Golf Digest ● Feb. 3, 2018

This early phase, from its earliest inceptions in the 1960s until 2000, is what J.G. Palfrey, the former executive director of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, calls the Open Internet.

From The Verge ● Apr. 13, 2016

Performance of the funds hasn’t kept up with the market, trailing their benchmarks since their inceptions.

From BusinessWeek ● Jan. 13, 2012

It was as though some transitory flashes of artistic power in the minds of prehistoric artists were struggling with an inability to give adequate expression to their inceptions.

From Engraving for Illustration Historical and Practical Notes by Joseph Kirkbride

Related Words

• initiation
• outset