onboarding

USAGE SUMMARY

"onboarding" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when referring to inducting or orientating a new employee or customer, or introducing a new process or system. For example, "We need to put together an onboarding program to make sure new employees understand our company procedures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

I looked up one that had baffled me recently — "onboarding," as in "I'll start onboarding you onto payroll within the next week" — and learned that to "onboard" is to "prepare an employee for a new job or project".

The New Yorker

There are even onboarding specialists, such as PrimeGenesis named to evoke good beginnings, despite sounding like a Bond villain's front company.In this section Going global The right to roam Who's your Daddy?

The Economist

To this end, PrimeGenesis particularly emphasises making the most of "pre-boarding"—the period between an executive accepting the job and officially starting it.Unlike executive coaching, which focuses on the career-development of an individual executive, onboarding firms concentrate more on establishing teams.

The Economist

In my last several posts, I have talked about recruiting, interviewing, "onboarding" and the process that we go through to make sure we hire the right person for the job.

The New York Times

I plan to cover our entire hiring process for this new team in future posts: recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, training and results.

The New York Times

Onboarding doesn't stop after the first day Onboarding at Birchbox is a 30-day process.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Also, this post originally said there were no paying passengers onboard.

The Economist

The poem will be celebrated next month in a 200-mile onboard performance between Hull and London, involving scores of actors, 200 miles of track, eight towns and cities, recordings of some of the poet's beloved jazz tunes, and the voice of actor Bill Nighy reading his work over the train's Tannoy.

The Guardian

Aly is a regular co-host of The Project on Fridays alongside hosts Carrie Bickmore and Peter Helliar and it is understood the Ten show is keen on getting him onboard full time.

The Guardian

In relation to the incident, the 59-page report made just one recommendation: that the joint agencies review the policy around the provision of lifejackets to people "onboard vessels in distress situations where it is not possible to board the vessel and assist in the correct fitting of lifejackets".

The Guardian

The Turin derby was marred not only by those missed refereeing decisions but also by the all-too-predictable appearance of banners making light of the 1949 Superga air disaster, when a plane carrying Torino's players back from a game in Lisbon crashed, killing everyone onboard.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the introduction of new technologies or processes, use "onboarding" to highlight the structured approach to adoption.

Common error

Don't use "onboarding" as a generic term for 'starting something new'. Be specific about the structured integration or training aspect that the term implies.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "onboarding" is as a noun, often used to describe a process or program. Ludwig shows that it's frequently used in the context of new employees or clients.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

35%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "onboarding" functions primarily as a noun referring to the process of integrating new members into an organization or system. Ludwig AI confirms it is a correct and usable word. It is commonly used in professional and news contexts, denoting a structured and systematic introduction. When using "onboarding", ensure it accurately reflects the intended structured integration, distinguishing it from generic 'starting' situations. Alternatives include "employee integration" and "new hire orientation".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Client onboarding

This refers to the process of familiarizing a new client with your company’s product or service.

Employee integration

Focuses specifically on the integration of new employees into the company culture and workflows.

New hire orientation

Emphasizes the initial orientation process for new employees.

Induction process

Refers to the formal introduction and training of a new member.

On-the-job training

Highlights the training aspect of onboarding, specifically learning while working.

Team assimilation

Focuses on how a new person becomes part of a team.

Customer adoption

Highlights the user's acceptance and integration of a product or service.

System integration

Refers to the process of integrating new systems into an existing infrastructure or workflow.

User introduction

Focuses on familiarizing new users with a product or system.

Implementation process

Refers to the steps involved in putting a plan or system into effect, often including training.

FAQs

How to use "onboarding" in a sentence?

You can use "onboarding" to describe the process of integrating a new employee into a company, such as, "Our company has a comprehensive "onboarding" program for all new hires".

What can I say instead of "onboarding"?

You can use alternatives like "employee integration", "new hire orientation", or "induction process" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "onboarding" or "on board"?

"Onboarding" refers to the process of integrating someone into a company or system. "On board" means physically on a vehicle or part of a team. They are not interchangeable.

What's the difference between "onboarding" and "training"?

"Training" is a component of "onboarding". "Onboarding" is the overall process of integrating a new employee, while training focuses specifically on teaching them the skills needed for the job.