inculcation Inculcation is the instilling of knowledge or values in someone, usually by repetition. To inculcate is to instill or impress an idea on someone, so inculcation is the process of instilling or impressing ideas. A lot of teaching is a form of inculcation: teachers repeat information to students, hoping it will sink in. Parents employ inculcation to instill values like Don't lie and Have courage in their children.