onboard

American  

[on-bawrd, awn-] / ˈɒnˈbɔrd, ˈɔn- /

Or on-board

adjective

1. provided, occurring, etc., on a vehicle.

   among the ship's many onboard services.

2. installed and functional within a vehicle or electronic device.

   onboard computers for aircraft.

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verb (used with object)

Business.

1. to assist and support (a new employee) in developing the skills, knowledge, attitudes, etc., needed to do their job.

2. to interact and exchange information with (a new customer) so as to ensure customer satisfaction, maximize company revenue, etc..

   Part of onboarding new clients involves setting expectations and timelines.

3. to digitize and upload customer data collected offline, typically to improve the results of personalized data-driven marketing.

   The data we onboarded matched existing data online, providing us with better insight into the individual’s purchasing habits.

Etymology

Origin of onboard

First recorded in 1965–70; adjective use of adverb phrase on board

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

onboard

The ship also has a dog onboard named “Capt. Fathom” to “support crew morale and emotional welfare,” the Navy said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

"But as any sailor knows, the longer a ship is out to sea, the more problems it incurs and the harder the days become for those onboard," he added.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

"We have very hard questions that require honest answers. The officials must release the correct number of people who were onboard," she wrote.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

“Customers in the air are a highly valuable audience—highly engaged, highly attractable,” said Stephanie Laster, managing director of onboard experience at Delta.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

On his first voyage, he was a deckhand, the youngest man onboard.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers