inaugural

1 of 2

adjective

in·​au·​gu·​ral i-ˈnȯ-gyə-rəl 

-g(ə-)rəl

1

: of or relating to an inauguration

an inaugural ball

2

: marking a beginning : first in a projected series

an aircraft's inaugural flight

inaugural

2 of 2

noun

1

: an inaugural address

2

: inauguration

Synonyms of inaugural

Adjective

• first
• initial
• original
• maiden
• foremost

Noun

• inauguration

Examples of inaugural in a Sentence

Adjective

They attended the inaugural ball.

the inaugural event in the city's week long festival honoring the sailing ships

Noun

attended the inaugurals of the city's last three mayors

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Steel was first announced as one of the inaugural signings to the WWE ID program in the fall of 2024. —Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025

Saturday marked Prince George's inaugural attendance at the event, which members of the royal family attend each year. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025

Noun

From Clinton’s tenure as first lady of the state of Arkansas through her White House years, Kamran periodically dressed her for key events, including for Bill Clinton’s second gubernatorial inaugural. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 25 July 2025

If fundraising is Global’s plan with its pair of inaugurals, leaving its A380 parked at JFK for four days between flights is an odd choice. —Edward Russell, CNN Money, 9 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing inaugural

• pre-inaugural

Rhymes for inaugural

• doggerel

Kids Definition

inaugural

1 of 2 adjective

in·​au·​gu·​ral in-ˈȯ-gyə-rəl 

-g(ə-)rəl

1

: of or relating to an inauguration

the inaugural address

an inaugural ball

2

: marking a beginning

the inaugural run of a new high-speed train

inaugural

2 of 2 noun

1

: an inaugural address

2

: inauguration