Induction is a way of reaching a conclusion by observing specific examples and finding a pattern that seems to apply more broadly. If you notice that every dog you've ever met wags its tail when happy, you might use induction to conclude that all dogs wag their tails when happy. Scientists use induction constantly: they run experiments, gather data, and look for patterns that might reveal general laws of nature.

Induction is powerful but not foolproof. Just because something has always happened one way doesn't guarantee it will continue. If you've only ever seen white swans, you might inductively conclude all swans are white, but then you'd be surprised to discover black swans in Australia. This is why scientists test their inductively formed ideas repeatedly under different conditions.

The word also has a separate meaning: induction can refer to the formal process of bringing someone into a group or position, like when a principal inducts new members into the National Honor Society. When you're inducted into something, you're officially welcomed and recognized as belonging.

In physics, electromagnetic induction describes how moving magnets can create electricity, a discovery that powers much of the modern world.