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
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.
Farooq is in the process of onboarding brands and mills to the platform. Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026 Most users grant these connections during onboarding and never revisit them. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Rubin declined to comment on the company’s revenue, which comprises asset management and onboarding fees. Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2026 One component, which the company calls an SOP librarian, is designed to organize and retain internal knowledge such as SOPs, checklists, meeting notes, decisions, client onboarding processes, and frequently referenced information. Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 18 Aug. 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 26 Aug. 2026.

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