initiated

IPA/ɪˈnɪʃ.i.eɪt/
KK[ˌɪnˈɪʃiˌetəd]IPA/ɪˈnɪʃ.i.eɪt/

initiated — adjective

  • initiatedpositive
  • more initiatedcomparative
  • most initiatedsuperlative

1. having been formally accepted as a member of a group or society through an offic

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

having been formally accepted as a member of a group or society through an official process, especially referring to the special status or early period after joining.

Example

The newly initiated members of the hiking club received their official badges at the ceremony.

Only initiated members of the scientific committee are allowed to vote on research funding proposals.

collocation: initiated member + of + group

Common collocations
  • newly initiated
  • fully initiated
  • initiated member
  • initiated recruit
Synonyms
  • inducted

    suggests a ceremonial aspect more strongly than 'initiated'

  • admitted

    broader term that can apply to hospitals or schools, not just membership groups

Antonyms
  • uninitiated

    describes someone who has not yet gone through the admission process

Usage Note

Usually appears before a noun describing a role or status. This sense covers both the achieved membership status and the special position of a person in the early period after joining, which may involve mentoring or further training.

Common Mistakes

She is an initiated in the club.
She is a fully initiated member of the club.
'initiated' is an adjective, not a noun; use 'member' or a similar noun after it.

2. having been taught the special knowledge, customs, or practices that are not sha

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

having been taught the special knowledge, customs, or practices that are not shared with outsiders.

Example

The initiated few understood the hidden meaning behind the ancient ritual symbols.

Dr. Okafor's lecture was difficult for newcomers but perfectly clear to the initiated audience.

adjective modifying a collective noun (audience)

Common collocations
  • the initiated
  • initiated audience
  • initiated few
  • initiated in
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • uninitiated

    describes someone who lacks the insider knowledge

Usage Note

Often used in the phrase 'the initiated' as a collective noun meaning 'people who know the secrets'. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 emphasises formal membership status, while sense 2 emphasises possessing insider knowledge.

Common Mistakes

Only the initiated members know the password' (when meaning 'people who know the secret').
Only the initiated know the password.
When 'the initiated' is used as a collective noun, no 'members' is needed.

initiated — noun

initiated — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

The verb 'initiate' (sense START) belongs to a family of near-synonyms that differ mainly in formality and scope. 'Start' and 'begin' are the most neutral and common — you can start a car, start a meal, or start a conversation in everyday speech. 'Initiate' is distinctly more formal and suggests an official or deliberate beginning: a government initiates a policy, a company initiates an investigation. 'Launch' adds the idea of a public debut, often with fanfare (launch a product, launch a campaign). 'Commence' is the most formal of the group, found in legal, academic, or ceremonial contexts (commence proceedings, commence construction). For everyday actions, use 'start' or 'begin'. For formal, deliberate beginnings, 'initiate' is appropriate. Example: 'The city council initiated a recycling programme last month' (formal, official). Compare: 'We started dinner at seven' (everyday, neutral).

start ↗begin ↗launch ↗commence ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • formally initiated
  • officially initiated
  • recently initiated
  • newly initiated

Phrases

  • initiate proceedings
  • initiate contact
  • initiate a project

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Borrowed from Latin 'initiatus', the past participle of 'initiare' meaning 'to begin' or 'to initiate (into mysteries)'. 'Initium' means 'a beginning', which also gives us 'initial' and 'initiative'. The sense of formally admitting someone into a group developed from the Roman religious practice of 'initiari' — being initiated into sacred rites.

First known use

1533

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun