noun

onboarding

/ˈɒnbɔːrdɪŋ/ · say it: ON·bor·ding

integrating a new employee or customer

In Business & Marketing

In more detail

1. (noun) the process of introducing a new employee to a company and helping them learn how to do their job

2. (noun) the process of helping a new customer or user become familiar with a product or service

Examples

The company has a two-week onboarding program for all new hires.
The app's onboarding process guides users through the main features step by step.

How to use onboarding

Onboarding is a business and technology term that describes the structured process of integrating new employees or users into an organization or platform. It is now standard in corporate HR and product management contexts, though it remains more formal and jargon-heavy than the older, more neutral term induction. The word emphasizes systematic support and familiarization, often implying a planned series of steps.

Common phrases

employee onboarding
customer onboarding
onboarding process
onboarding program
streamline onboarding
onboarding checklist

Synonyms

induction · orientation · training · initiation · integration

Opposites

offboarding · departure

Word family

onboard (verb) · onboarded (adjective) · onboarding (noun)

A common mistake

Learners often confuse onboarding with training; onboarding is broader and includes cultural integration, while training focuses specifically on job skills.

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