in·doc·tri·nate
in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnāt
indoctrinated; indoctrinating
1
disapproving
: to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle
… a dictator who has spent 40 years indoctrinating his people.—Jonathan Alter
2
: to instruct especially in fundamentals or rudiments : teach
New instructors are … indoctrinated with technical information …—Ken Castle
in·doc·tri·na·tion
(ˌ)inˌdäktrə̇ˈnāshən
ənˌd-
plural -s
1
: the act or process of indoctrinating or the state of being indoctrinated
the proper and adequate indoctrination of a newly received prisoner is one of the most important points of the rehabilitation program—W. H. Maglin
evidence of attempts at subversive indoctrination or disloyal teaching—B. F. Wright
indoctrination can be smuggled in … in the name of democratic education—F. C. Neft
2
: something with or in which one is indoctrinated
freedom of minds, the maxims of logic and experimental proof, of intellectual honesty, of tolerance and persuasion … constitute a body of indoctrination to which no objection can consistently be raised—R. B. Perry
indoctrinational
adjective
(¦)⸗¦⸗⸗¦nāshənᵊl,
-shnəl
Did you know?
Indoctrinate means "brainwash" in most contexts today, but its meaning wasn'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.
Cite this Entry
“Indoctrinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indoctrinate. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.
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