What does introduced mean?
Introduced is the past tense and past participle of introduce, a verb meaning to bring something into use, circulation, or existence. It is commonly used for new products, services, policies, technologies, and ideas: a government may introduce a regulation, or a company may introduce a new design. The verb can also mean making a person or subject known to someone else, as in introducing a friend to a hobby or presenting a speaker to an audience. In environmental and biological contexts, an introduced species is one brought by human activity to a region where it was not originally native. The word is common in formal, professional, and informational writing, though it can also appear in everyday conversation. Its historical connection to Latin introducere, meaning to lead in, reflects the idea of bringing someone or something forward.
Brought something into use, circulation, or existence, or made it known to others.
"The school introduced a new computer lab."
The past tense and past participle form is introduced; the present forms are introduce and introduces.
Brought into a particular place, population, or system, especially by human activity.
"The researchers studied the effects of the introduced plant on native insects."
This form is especially common in biological and environmental descriptions, as in 'introduced species.'
The word introduced carries an interesting double life: it can describe putting an idea into the world or making one person known to another.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does introduced come from?
The word comes through Old French from Latin introducere, formed from intro-, meaning 'in' or 'into,' and ducere, meaning 'to lead.' In English, introduce developed both the sense of bringing someone or something into a new place or use and the sense of making a person or subject known to another. Related English forms include introduction and introductory, while induction is a cognate sharing the Latin root of 'lead.'
Related word forms
How introduced is actually used
In its environmental and biological senses, introduced commonly describes a species, population, or pathogen that has been brought into an area where it was not originally native. In social contexts, introduce means to present people to one another or to make someone familiar with a new subject or activity.
Easily confused with introduced
Introduce is the base form of the verb, while introduced is its past tense and past participle, as in 'She introduced the plan yesterday.'