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.
The Vatican has not yet confirmed whether Pope Leo XIV will accept an invitation to the tower's inauguration.
From Barron's
Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait,” for speaker and orchestra, written in 1942 in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attack, had been slated for a performance at Dwight D. Eisenhower’s inauguration in 1952.
From Los Angeles Times
The dam "releases water to produce energy. They are not irrigation schemes that consume water," Pietro Salini, CEO of Webuild, the project's prime contractor, told AFP at the inauguration in September.
From Barron's
As a kicker, “Melania” observes its central couple politely nodding goodnight after they come home from three inauguration balls, making it clear that the couple prefers separate bedrooms.
From Los Angeles Times
Melania: 20 Days to History promises viewers an intimate glimpse into the First Lady's life in the days leading up to her husband's January 2025 inauguration.
From BBC
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.
