indoctrinate

verb

in·​doc·​tri·​nate in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnāt 

indoctrinated; indoctrinating

transitive verb

1

: to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle

2

: to instruct especially in fundamentals or rudiments : teach

indoctrination

(ˌ)in-ˌdäk-trə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

indoctrinator

in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

Indoctrinate means "brainwash" to many people, but its meaning isn't always so negative. When the verb first appeared in English in the 17th century, it simply meant "to teach"—a meaning linked closely to its source, the Latin verb docēre, which also means "to teach." (Other offspring of docēre include docile, doctor, document, and, of course, doctrine). By the 19th century, indoctrinate was being used in the sense of teaching someone to fully accept only the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of a particular group.

Synonyms

• educate
• instruct
• lesson
• school
• teach
• train
• tutor

Examples of indoctrinate in a Sentence

The goal should be to teach politics, rather than to indoctrinate students in a narrow set of political beliefs.

indoctrinated children in proper safety procedures

Recent Examples on the Web

Jason has also been indoctrinated into Swiftieland since his little brother’s romance with the star began. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024

The adorable animal characters take some of the edge off a game that entails indoctrinating cult members, battling spirits and cannibalism. —Theara Coleman, theweek, 11 Oct. 2024

Handsome but not very bright, Whitlock is kidnapped by communist screenwriters, who end up indoctrinating him into their cause. —Will Leitch, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024

Russia needs soldiers, IT specialists, workers for its military-industrial complex, and an obedient rising generation that has been indoctrinated in the revanchist and simplified history propagated in the new textbooks. —Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably from Middle English endoctrinen, from Anglo-French endoctriner, from en- + doctrine doctrine

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

indoctrinate

verb

in·​doc·​tri·​nate in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnāt 

indoctrinated; indoctrinating

1

: instruct sense 1, teach

2

: to teach the ideas, opinions, or beliefs of a particular group

indoctrination

(ˌ)in-ˌdäk-trə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

indoctrinator

in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnāt-ər 

noun