noun
assimilation
uh-sih-muh-LAY-shuhn
noun
1
The process of taking in and absorbing something, whether ideas, nutrients, or a group of people into a wider culture.
"The assimilation of new employees into the company culture took months."
"Cultural assimilation was once a common goal of immigration policy."
2
In linguistics, a sound change in which one speech sound becomes more like a neighboring sound.
"The "n" in "input" often shifts to "m" through assimilation."
How to Use Assimilation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe process of becoming similar to, or absorbed into, something else.
Common pairings
cultural assimilation
process of assimilation
Word Forms
assimilations plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “assimilation”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of new employees into the company culture took months.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin assimilatio, from "assimilate" plus the noun suffix "-ion".