inauguration

noun

in·​au·​gu·​ra·​tion i-ˌnȯ-gyə-ˈrā-shən 

-gə-

: an act of inaugurating

especially : a ceremonial induction into office

Synonyms of inauguration

• inaugural

Examples of inauguration in a Sentence

the pomp and circumstance of a presidential inauguration

Recent Examples on the Web

Walesa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership of the Polish anti-communist resistance as the head of the Solidarity trade union, and was later Polish president, had a front row seat during the inauguration ceremony. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

He was invited to go to the inauguration of Harris and Joe Biden in 2021. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026

The inauguration of Colombia’s new far-right President, Abelardo de la Espriella, was attended by a cast of his ideological fellow-travellers from around the region. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026

Streitfeld, who is now mayor of North Bay Village and who attended the facility’s inauguration on June 4 this year, did not respond to the Herald’s requests for comment. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1569, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inauguration

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

inauguration

noun

in·​au·​gu·​ra·​tion in-ˌȯ-g(y)ə-ˈrā-shən 

: an act or ceremony of inaugurating