Standard Lemma guide

initiatory

adj · noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Of or pertaining to initiation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Inceptive, initial, inaugural or introductory.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An introductory act or rite.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

serving to set in motion

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the magazine's inaugural issue
  • the initiative phase in the negotiations
  • an initiatory step toward a treaty
  • his first (or maiden) speech in Congress
  • the liner's maiden voyage

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inaugural, initiative, first, maiden

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Latin initiāt-, past participial stem of initiō, + -ory. By surface analysis, initiate + -ory.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: начален (načalen) — initial, inaugural
  • Bulgarian: уводен (uvoden) — initial, inaugural
  • Catalan: iniciàtic — initial, inaugural
  • French: initiatique — initial, inaugural
  • German: initiatorisch — initial, inaugural
  • Spanish: iniciativo — initial, inaugural
  • Spanish: iniciático — initial, inaugural
  • Welsh: ynydol — initial, inaugural