inaugural

1 of 2

adjective

in·​au·​gu·​ral i-ˈnȯ-gyə-rəl How to pronounce inaugural (audio)
-g(ə-)rəl
1
: of or relating to an inauguration
2
: marking a beginning : first in a projected series

inaugural

2 of 2

noun

1
: an inaugural address
2

Examples of inaugural in a Sentence

Adjective They attended the inaugural ball. the inaugural event in the city's week long festival honoring the sailing ships Noun attended the inaugurals of the city's last three mayors
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
She was recently named a Sundance Momentum Fellow and presented the inaugural Jaya Award from Barnard College’s Athena Film Festival. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 Four documentary filmmakers have been selected to participate in Yeti’s inaugural Pretty Wild fellowship program, which supports documentaries that give a fresh perspective on the outdoors and the people and stories that live there. Addie Morfoot, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 The Kansas City Royals will showcase their top organizational prospects in Major League Baseball’s inaugural Spring Breakout game. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2024 Don’t Speak, Just Kiss signifies Liu Lian’s inaugural venture into complete artistic autonomy as a soloist. Billboard China, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024 The partnership with Andaz is the firm’s inaugural collaboration with Hyatt, said Sam Bakhshandehpour, president of the José Andrés Group. Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 With the inaugural race a success last year, and Portland getting a double-header this season, the idea of keeping Portland on the schedule and adding dates seems what could occur beginning in 2025. Maury Brown, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 City to hold youth piano competition The city of Encinitas will hold the inaugural 2024 Youth Piano Concerto Competition with the North Coast Symphony Orchestra. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 Billie Eilish was the recipient of the inaugural Vanguard award. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 22 Feb. 2024
Noun
In the coming campaign, prominent Democrats will inevitably tout the strength of Biden’s first-term White House as a selling point to voters who are dubious of reelecting a president who will be 82 at his second inaugural. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 19 Sep. 2023 His first inaugural is always a favorite. Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 19 Nov. 2020 On Friday, January 6, under a sky swept blue by days of wind and rain, California governor Gavin Newsom marched with family and supporters to his second inaugural. Will Swaim, National Review, 15 Jan. 2023 Some of the million-dollar donors to the Biden inaugural also gave to Lamont, albeit on a much smaller scale: Bank of America, $5,000; AT&T, $10,000; Comcast, $15,000; and Lockheed Martin, $25,000. Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 20 Jan. 2023 Contributions to an inaugural are deemed a gift to the state, not an individual. Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 20 Dec. 2022 Yet a gallon of gas still averages $3.85, up from a year ago when Biden called $3.35 a gallon a strain on families and from roughly $2.40 a gallon during his 2021 inaugural. Josh Boak and Zeke Miller, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Oct. 2022 For his 2009 inaugural, President Barack Obama hosted a concert on the steps of the memorial and was photographed in the chamber. Jonathan O'Connell, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2022 Sonny Lindner won the inaugural with a nine-dog team. John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 21 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inaugural.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inaugural was in 1689

Dictionary Entries Near inaugural

Cite this Entry

“Inaugural.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inaugural. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inaugural

1 of 2 adjective
in·​au·​gu·​ral in-ˈȯ-gyə-rəl How to pronounce inaugural (audio)
-g(ə-)rəl
1
: of or relating to an inauguration
the inaugural address
an inaugural ball
2
: marking a beginning
the inaugural run of a new high-speed train

inaugural

2 of 2 noun
1
: an inaugural address
2

More from Merriam-Webster on inaugural

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