onboarding

noun

on·​board·​ing ˈȯn-ˌbȯr-diŋ How to pronounce onboarding (audio)
ˈän-
1
: the act or process of orienting and training a new employee
… good onboarding leads to higher employee engagement and greater retention rates.Joyce E. A. Russell
2
: the act or process of familiarizing a new customer with one's products or services
Customer onboarding primarily involves answering customers' questions and addressing their concerns so they have a smooth, positive experience with your product or service.Aaron Agius
3
: the act or process of converting data to digital form
While many retailers are coming to terms with the need for data onboarding and management, there is still a massive chasm between collecting data and using it to the fullest advantage.Larisa Bedgood
onboard transitive verb
onboarded; onboarding
The workflow chart that was pinned to the wall was an excellent orientation for me, as a new employee, and anyone else being onboarded. Jill Duffy
It's easy to forget how difficult hiring people is and getting them onboarded and effective in their job. Sue Gilbert
Once a customer is onboarded, they can immediately start using the account for remittance payments … Richard Gluyas

Examples of onboarding in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This is opposed to Destiny 2’s exceptionally poor onboarding experience which has only gotten worse in time. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025 Then, a helpful onboarding checklist appears at the bottom-right of your screen that asks you to complete a few introductory tasks, such as integrating apps, learning how to navigate ClickUp, talking to ClickUp’s AI assistant, and more. PC Magazine, 2 Sep. 2025 Some examples include using AI to do more intelligent onboarding, which allows for Cisco to more accurately assess exactly what tools or software are needed to support the role a new employee is hired for. John Kell, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2025 This includes the costs of hiring, onboarding and training new employees. Louis Tay, The Conversation, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for onboarding

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of onboarding was in 1988

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Onboarding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onboarding. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!