inauguration
gb/ɪnˌɔɡjɚˈeɪʃən/ us/ɪnˌɔɡjɚˈeɪʃən/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
B2
event
1
Official ceremony for taking office
an official ceremony when a president, mayor, or other leader starts the job
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s inauguration; the inauguration of [official] as [position]
Common mistake:
Do not use inauguration for an ordinary first day at work; use first day or start instead.
Synonyms
swearing-in (focuses on the oath of office, not the whole ceremony)
|
installation (formal placing of someone in an office; can sound ceremonial or religious)
|
induction (admission into a role or organization; less specific to presidents)
Antonyms
leaving office (marks the end of an official role rather than the start)
|
farewell (an event saying goodbye, often at the end of a role)
Collocations
presidential inauguration
|inauguration ceremony
|official inauguration
|attend an inauguration
|watch the inauguration
|inauguration speech
|inauguration events
|inauguration security
|the president's inauguration
|the mayor's inauguration
Themes
politics
|government
|ceremonies
|leadership
Examples
- The president's inauguration drew large crowds to the capital.
- At the governor's inauguration, she promised to focus on schools and housing.
- The ceremony was brief, but the inauguration was watched by millions online.
Learner examples
- We watched the president's inauguration on TV.
- His inauguration is next week.
Noun
formal
B2
event
2
Formal opening or launch
an official opening of a new place, service, or project
Usage pattern:
the inauguration of [building/project/service/organization]
Common mistake:
For shops, restaurants, and informal events, opening or launch is usually more natural than inauguration.
Synonyms
opening (more common and less formal)
|
launch (often used for a product, service, project, or campaign)
|
dedication (an official ceremony for opening or naming a public building or monument)
Antonyms
closure (the ending or shutting down of a place or activity)
|
shutdown (the stopping or closing of a service, organization, or system)
Collocations
official inauguration
|formal inauguration
|grand inauguration
|inauguration ceremony
|the inauguration of a new building
|the inauguration of a new bridge
|the inauguration of a rail service
|mark the inauguration
|celebrate the inauguration
|hold an inauguration
Themes
ceremonies
|public_events
|business
|infrastructure
Examples
- The inauguration of the new hospital will take place on Monday.
- A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official inauguration of the bridge.
- The gallery invited donors to the inauguration of its new wing.
Learner examples
- We went to the inauguration of the new library.
- The inauguration of the rail line was on Friday.
Noun
formal
C1
abstract
3
Start of a new system
the start of something new, especially a new system, policy, or period
Usage pattern:
the inauguration of [era/policy/system/program]
Common mistake:
This use is formal; in everyday English, start or beginning is usually better.
Synonyms
beginning (more general and neutral)
|
introduction (emphasizes putting something new into use)
|
initiation (formal word for starting a process or activity)
Antonyms
end (the point when something stops rather than begins)
|
termination (formal ending of something)
|
discontinuation (stopping a system, policy, or activity that had been in use)
Collocations
the inauguration of a new era
|the inauguration of a policy
|the inauguration of a program
|the inauguration of reforms
|mark the inauguration of
|herald the inauguration of
|since its inauguration
Themes
change
|history
|politics
|society
Examples
- The agreement marked the inauguration of a new phase in trade relations.
- Many historians see the discovery as the inauguration of a new era in physics.
- The government announced the inauguration of a nationwide recycling program.
Learner examples
- The reform marked the inauguration of a new system.
Grammar
Dictionary form
inauguration
IPA
GB/ɪnˌɔɡjɚˈeɪʃən/
US/ɪnˌɔɡjɚˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
in - aug - ur - a - tion (5 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: inauguration
- Plural: inauguration
Expressions
inauguration day
1/ɪnˌɔɡjɚˈeɪʃən dˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
Day of official swearing-in
the day when a new president or other official officially starts the job
Examples
- Thousands of visitors came to Washington for Inauguration Day.
- On Inauguration Day, the president takes the oath of office.
- Security plans are usually announced weeks before Inauguration Day.