Standard Lemma guide

uninitiated

adj · noun · 3 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ʌnɪnˈɪʃi.eɪtɪd/
  • CMU ARPABET: AH2 N IH0 N IH1 SH IY0 EY2 T IH0 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: AH2 N IY0 N IH1 SH IY0 EY2 T IH0 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Not having been initiated; not having the special knowledge of a particular group.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • His jargon-filled talk was gibberish to uninitiated listeners, but it was clear and concise to practitioners.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: uninformed, exoteric

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

People who have not been initiated and thus do not have the special knowledge of a particular group.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: plural, plural-only

Examples

  • His jargon-filled talk was gibberish to the uninitiated, but it was clear and concise to practitioners.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: noninitiate, uninitiate, outsider, exoteric

Antonyms: esoteric

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

not initiated; deficient in relevant experience

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • it seemed a bizarre ceremony to uninitiated western eyes
  • he took part in the experiment as a naive subject

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: uninitiate, naive

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English initiated English uninitiated From un- + initiated.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: nezasvěcený — not having been initiated; not having the special knowledge of a particular group
  • Dutch: ongeintroduceerde — not having been initiated; not having the special knowledge of a particular group
  • Finnish: perehtymätön — not having been initiated; not having the special knowledge of a particular group
  • French: non-initié — not having been initiated; not having the special knowledge of a particular group
  • French: béotien — not having been initiated; not having the special knowledge of a particular group
  • French: profane — not having been initiated; not having the special knowledge of a particular group
  • Greek: αμύητος (amýitos) — not having been initiated; not having the special knowledge of a particular group
  • Ancient Greek: ἀμύητος (amúētos) — not having been initiated; not having the special knowledge of a particular group