assimilation
noun
as·sim·i·la·tion
| \ ə-ˌsi-mə-ˈlā-shən
\
\
Definition of assimilation
1a
: an act, process, or instance of assimilating
The clash of lifestyles has made assimilation difficult.
b
: the state of being assimilated
2
: the incorporation or conversion of nutrients into protoplasm that in animals follows digestion and absorption and in higher plants involves both photosynthesis and root absorption
3
phonetics
: change of a sound in speech so that it becomes identical with or similar to a neighboring sound
the usual assimilation of \z\ to \sh\ in the phrase his shoe
4
: the process of receiving new facts or of responding to new situations in conformity with what is already available to consciousness
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Examples of assimilation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many argue in favor of assimilation, but its scruffier cousin, reinvention, was a great American theme for a long, long time. — Andrew Dansby, Houston Chronicle, "Folk legend Jack Elliott rambles onto the big screen and into town," 3 Sep. 2019 Inheriting an ideology of cultural survival from Québec, the French Canadians in the U.S. resisted assimilation. — David Vernette, Smithsonian, "When an Influx of French-Canadian Immigrants Struck Fear Into Americans," 21 Aug. 2019 Nothing suggests an imminent civil rights movement; Levinson’s hints at the culture of assimilation . . — Armond White, National Review, "The Baltimore Culture Wars: A History," 31 July 2019 What has been lost in the multicultural evolution of fast food in LA is the model of assimilation, integration and self-betterment that donut stores embodied. — The Economist, "How donuts fuelled the American Dream," 26 July 2019 How do parents, whether immigrants or natives, react to the cultural assimilation of their children? — Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Made in China': Film Review," 8 July 2019 Alaska Native people don’t have to have personally experienced boarding schools and forced assimilation to feel the effects of historical trauma. — Anchorage Daily News, "Tradition, culture, and the healing power of community," 18 June 2019 Yes, assimilation and smartphones—and, before them, legal crackdowns amid the AIDS crisis—have thinned the ranks of spots like The Club. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Cruising in the Age of Consent," 19 June 2019 Amid the swirling sand and the pell-mell assimilation of the stragglers, one motorcycle skids to a halt. — Robert Draper, National Geographic, "Surrounded by chaos, Niger is a nation on the edge," 17 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'assimilation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for assimilation
assimilation
noun
as·sim·i·la·tion
| \ ə-ˌsi-mə-ˈlā-shən
\
\
Kids Definition of assimilation
: the act or process of assimilating
assimilation
noun
as·sim·i·la·tion
| \ ə-ˌsim-ə-ˈlā-shən
\
\
Medical Definition of assimilation
1a
: an act, process, or instance of assimilating
b
: the state of being assimilated
2
: the incorporation or conversion of nutrients into protoplasm that in animals follows digestion and absorption and in higher plants involves both photosynthesis and root absorption
3
: the process of receiving new facts or of responding to new situations in conformity with what is already available to consciousness — compare apperception
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