onboarding

noun

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
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Companies can invite customers into two-way conversations at the moments that matter—before a purchase, during onboarding or when something changes—using context to offer help, gather feedback and take action instantly. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Delco said between recruiting, advertising, onboarding, training and sign-on bonuses, the company expects to see about $25 million more in the third-quarter costs compared with the second quarter. — Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026 Additionally, the new program builder will automatically set up and manage vendor onboarding processes, continuously monitor and update information on suppliers and automatically send compliance follow-ups. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Onboarding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onboarding. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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