# initiation

/ˌɪˌnɪʃiˈeɪʃən/ (US) · /ɪnˌɪʃɪˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/initiation
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. starting a process

noun · CEFR B2

the act of starting a new plan, process, or activity.

For teachers: the act of beginning or originating a process, project, or sequence of events.

- The initiation of the new safety rules helped reduce accidents at the factory.
- The rapid initiation of emergency protocols prevented the minor technical glitch from escalating into a full-scale system failure.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

### 2. joining a group

noun · CEFR B2

a ceremony or set of actions that someone must complete to join a club or organization.

For teachers: a formal ritual or set of requirements marking the admission of an individual into a specific group, society, or order.

- The club has a secret initiation for all new members.
- The university fraternity faced heavy criticism after reports surfaced regarding the dangerous nature of their annual initiation rites.

Teaching tip: In modern contexts, this often refers to university clubs or professional organizations, but it can also describe traditional tribal or religious ceremonies.

### 3. chemical/biological start

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the very first step in a chemical reaction or a biological process.

For teachers: the preliminary stage of a chemical reaction or a molecular process such as transcription or translation.

- The initiation of the reaction requires a small amount of heat.
- The research team focused on the initiation phase of protein synthesis to understand how certain genetic mutations occur.

Usage: Commonly used in biochemistry and polymer chemistry to describe the start of a chain reaction.

## Examples

- The initiation of the project began with a team meeting.
- In the laboratory, the initiation of the polymerisation process requires a specific catalyst to trigger the first chemical bond.
- The rapid initiation of the combustion sequence was facilitated by a high-energy spark, leading to a self-sustaining chain reaction within the chamber.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.