initiation
ih-nish-ee-AY-shuhn
/ɪˌnɪʃ.iˈeɪ.ʃən/
The action of admitting someone into a secret society, group, or status through a formal ceremony.
Implies crossing a threshold into a new group, rank, or level of secret knowledge.
The story behind the word. From Latin initiationem, referring to admittance into sacred mysteries. Rooted in in- (into) and ire (to go), it literally captures the act of 'stepping into' a new state of being.
Word relationships
- induction: Induction focuses on official installation into office or membership; initiation highlights the transformative ceremony or ordeal.
- admission: Admission is generic permission to enter; initiation involves ritual transformation.
- expulsion: Expulsion is forcing someone out of a group.
Commonly confused with
- initiative: Initiative means personal drive or a new proposal; initiation is entry into a group.
Word family
- initiate (verb): To admit into a group or start a process.
- initiate (noun): A person who has been initiated.
Collocations
- initiation rite
- initiation ceremony
- undergo initiation
- formal initiation
Idioms & expressions
- baptism by fire
Example sentences
- "The initiation into the fraternity required candidates to complete a series of challenging tasks." Sociology
- "Baptism serves as the foundational sacrament of initiation in many Christian denominations." Religion (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Memory hook
INITIATION is the INITIAL step into a secret club. The initial step across the doorway.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'initiative' (readiness to embark on bold action) or 'beginning' in a purely physical sense.
Fun facts
- Ancient Greek Eleusinian Mysteries were secret initiation rites that lasted over a thousand years.
Related words
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