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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Paycor is a human resources software company based in Norwood that provides employee recruitment, onboarding, payroll and other software to small and medium-sized businesses. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 14 Jan. 2023 Smith recommends a few key steps to create that mind-shift that employees can pursue a career and not just a job: Share a clear career path from the beginning of onboarding or even during interviews. Mark C. Perna, Forbes, 5 July 2022 Click here for a list of my Forbes articles (of which this is #819) and a summary of my book on executive onboarding: The New Leader’s 100-Day Action Plan. George Bradt, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023 Beyond the immediate costs, companies will have to spend more money on future hiring, including onboarding and training, when the economic climate improves. Alice Hearing, Fortune, 2 Feb. 2023 The dog onboarding is remarkably orderly, which Thompson said comes with the routine of the daily walk. Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Jan. 2023 Factors that were considered during the analysis include benefits offered, pay, reputation, reviews, awards, ease of onboarding, and access to customer service. Cathy Cassata, Health, 1 Feb. 2023 Fabulous said its long onboarding makes users more likely to stick with the program. Tatum Hunter, Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2022 Because of the friction points and the complicated user onboarding, scammers just lie in wait, waiting for the right time to pounce on their newfound prey. Michael Peres, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'onboarding.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of onboarding was in 1988

Dictionary Entries Near onboarding

Cite this Entry

“Onboarding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onboarding. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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