noun

onboarding

ON-bor-ding

Onboarding (noun) means the process of taking on a new employee and getting them settled, trained and productive, covering paperwork, introductions, systems access and early training. Example: “Her first week of onboarding was mostly compliance videos and setting up laptops.”

noun

The process of taking on a new employee and getting them settled, trained and productive, covering paperwork, introductions, systems access and early training.

"Her first week of onboarding was mostly compliance videos and setting up laptops."

"Good onboarding cuts the time a new hire needs before they can work unsupervised."

The steps a product or service takes a new user or customer through when they first sign up, such as account setup, verification and an introductory tour.

"The app's onboarding is four screens long and asks for far too much information."

"We lost a third of sign-ups during onboarding because of the identity check."

verb

Present participle of onboard: to bring a new employee, client or user into a system or organisation.

"We are onboarding six new clients before the end of the quarter."

How to Use Onboarding

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGetting a new employee or new user set up and up to speed.

When to use it

Business jargon, but now widely understood and standard in HR and tech.

Memory tip

In tech companies onboarding usually means the user sign-up flow; in HR it means the new-hire process. The context tells you which.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

orientation → induction → offboarding training →

Common pairings

employee onboarding onboarding process onboarding flow streamline onboarding onboarding experience

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Test yourself on “onboarding” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Her first week of _____ was mostly compliance videos and setting up laptops.

Etymology

A compound of the phrase 'on board', as in bringing someone on board, with the -ing ending; it spread through business and human-resources usage.

Origin: English

Synonyms

View more →

induction orientation integration sign-up flow activation user setup

Antonyms

offboarding

Related Words

direction bearing sexuality inclusion activation initiation induction disintegration

Rhymes for onboarding

Harding boarding hoarding guarding awarding regarding rewarding forwarding bombarding snowboarding safeguarding skateboarding

See all rhymes for onboarding →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between onboarding and orientation?

Orientation is usually a single event, often a day or two of introductions and paperwork at the start. Onboarding is the whole longer process that surrounds it, often running for three to twelve months until the person is fully effective.

What is the opposite of onboarding?

Offboarding, which is the structured process of an employee leaving: handovers, exit interviews, returning equipment and revoking system access.

Is it spelled onboarding, on-boarding or on boarding?

Onboarding as one word is now the standard form in business writing. On-boarding is a slightly dated variant and 'on boarding' as two words reads as an error.

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