Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Instruction has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
a message describing how something is to be done
"he gave directions faster than she could follow them"
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
"he received no formal education"
"our instruction was carefully programmed"
"good classroom teaching is seldom rewarded"
the profession of a teacher
"he prepared for teaching while still in college"
"pedagogy is recognized as an important profession"
(computer science) a line of code written as part of a computer program
"The developer spent hours debugging that single instruction before the entire loop failed to execute."
The act of instructing, teaching, or furnishing with information or knowledge.
"The instructor's patient instruction helped the student finally grasp the complex concept."
In plain English: An instruction is a direct order telling someone exactly what to do.
"The teacher gave clear instructions on how to solve the math problem."
Usage: Use "instruction" to refer to the process of teaching someone or the specific directions given to complete a task. It describes either the act of imparting knowledge or the set of rules provided to guide action.
The word instruction comes from the Latin instructio, which originally referred to a military formation or arrangement of troops. It entered English through Old French and Middle English, eventually taking on its modern meaning related to teaching or guidance.