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

Contributing to Trump’s inauguration was a way for tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Meta—as well as prominent Silicon Valley executives ranging from Altman to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi—to get help with Justice Department lawsuits and Federal Trade Commission antitrust investigations. —Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026

Back then, pilgrimages to Mar-a-Lago and cameos at the inauguration were, CEOs thought, a way to influence the president, whose bid-ask approach to governing endeared many in the business community to Trump during his first term. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Khalil publicly supported Mamdani’s bid for mayor and attended his inauguration. —Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026

Trump, 79, became the oldest president at time of inauguration in American history last January. —Tara Suter, The Hill, 21 Jan. 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