Inaugural means the first in a series, or relating to the beginning of something important. When a president takes office, they give an inaugural address, a speech marking the official start of their time in office. The ceremony itself is called an inauguration.

Schools might hold an inaugural science fair, meaning it's the very first one they've ever organized. A baseball team's inaugural season is their first year playing. The word carries a sense of importance and ceremony: we don't usually call just anything inaugural. You wouldn't say you ate your “inaugural breakfast” this morning, but you might talk about the inaugural meeting of a new club you're starting.

When something is inaugural, people often pay special attention because it sets the tone for everything that follows. That first event becomes the model and memory that shapes all the ones that come after.