inauguration
Americannoun
Usage
What does inauguration mean? Inauguration is the process of inaugurating someone—officially inducting them into a position.It can also refer to the process of introducing something into use with a formal ceremony.Inauguration is also commonly used to refer to a ceremony in which a person or thing is inaugurated.The inauguration of U.S. presidents—in which they are officially inducted into office and sworn in—happens on Inauguration Day.The inauguration of a new factory or public building might involve a ribbon-cutting ceremony or a dedication ceremony, for example. However, the word is not all that commonly used in this way. In the context of buildings, the word dedication is more common.The verb inaugurate can also be used in a more general way meaning to formally or officially take action to begin something—to initiate or commence it. The noun inauguration can also be used in this general way to mean initiation or commencement, as in The end of the war brought about the inauguration of a new era.Example: In the U.S., presidents are elected in November, but their terms don’t officially begin until their inauguration in January.
Other Word Forms
- reinauguration noun
Etymology
Origin of inauguration
First recorded in 1560–70, inauguration is from the Late Latin word inaugurātiōn- (stem of inaugurātiō ). See inaugurate, -ion.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But despite having been contacted by Kennedy surrogates before Trump’s second inauguration, he’s not heard from them since.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026
But since his death, his wife, daughter Bona and Robert Jr have appeared to reconcile with the party, attending President Emmerson Mnangagwa's most recent inauguration in 2023.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
The yields on the 20-year and 30-year Treasuries have fallen by a more modest amount of 0.28 percentage points and 0.15 percentage points, respectively, since Trump’s inauguration.
From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026
Yet, the country’s wells last year gushed a record 13.6 million barrels of crude on average each day—100,000 barrels more than the Energy Information Administration, the federal forecaster, had anticipated before President Trump’s inauguration.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026
According to the Washington Post, the women “practically fought their way foot by foot up Pennsylvania Avenue....No inauguration has ever produced such scenes, which in many instances amounted to little less than riots.”
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
