Induce Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of INDUCE

[+ object]

1

somewhat formal

:

to cause (someone or something) to do something

• The advertisement is meant to induce people to eat more fruit.
• No one knows what induced him to leave.

2

:

to cause (something) to happen or exist

• medication to induce vomiting
• Her illness was induced by overwork.
• drug-induced sleep
• a stress-induced illness

3

medical

:

to give (a pregnant woman) special medicine in order to make her give birth

• The mother was induced.

:

to cause (labor or birth) to begin by giving special drugs to a pregnant woman

• They will induce labor to avoid complications.

— inducer

noun,

plural

inducers

technical

[count]

• He uses the herb as a sleep inducer.