French word

initiatique

Pronunciation

IPA/inisjatik/

Meaning

  • adjectiveinitiatory

Example

Il a participé à un rite initiatique.

He took part in an initiation ritual.

Illustration for initiatique (initiatory)

More examples

Pour lui, ce stage a été un moment initiatique.

For him, this training course was an initiatory moment.

Core concept

A symbolic threshold ceremony that brings someone into a group, role, or body of knowledge.

Similar words

rituel: Involving a ceremony or procedure repeated by custom.
sacré: Regarded as worthy of religious or spiritual reverence.
traditionnel: Rooted in established traditions, methods, or ideas.
symbolique: Expressing or carrying a meaning through symbols.

Definition in French

Qui se rapporte aux pratiques symboliques ou rituelles employées pour introduire quelqu'un aux codes, aux savoirs ou aux usages d'un milieu.

Word origin

Initiatique is derived from French initiation with the suffix -ique, ultimately tracing back to Latin initium, 'beginning', and initiare, 'to begin'.

Usage tips

  • Initiatique is a formal adjective often used in anthropology, religion, and literary discussion rather than in ordinary conversation.

Other meanings

  • introductoryadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word