inaugural

1. not comparableOf inauguration; as in a speech or lecture by the person being inaugurated.

   The University of Cape Town hosts an inaugural lecture by Professor Ian Scott […] on Wednesday at 8pm.

   2008 August 21, Cape Times, page 21

   1 more example

   In 1928 [Martin] Heidegger succeeded [Edmund] Husserl to take a chair at Freiburg and in his inaugural lecture made a pronouncement that earned him a reputation as an archetypal metaphysician with his claim that our awareness of people as a whole depends on our experience of dread in the face of nothingness.

   2014 April 12, Michael Inwood, “Martin Heidegger: the philosopher who fell for Hitler [print version: Hitler's philosopher]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review), London, archived from the original on 13 Sep 2014, page R11

2. not comparableMarking the beginning of an operation, venture, etc.

   2009 was the inaugural season for New York Yankees' new stadium.

   1 more example

   Canada’s men’s hockey team defeated the USA 3-2 in overtime Thursday to capture the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off Championship as the NHL put on a show in the first edition of this midseason international tournament.

   2025 February 20, Homero De la Fuente, “Canada beats Team USA in overtime thriller to win hockey’s first-ever 4 Nations Face-off championship”, in CNN

plural inaugurals

1. An inauguration; a formal beginning.

   The inaugural of the President will take place in March.

2. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of inaugural address

   In his inaugural, President Obama proclaimed 'an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics'.

   2009 March 13, Teddy Davis, ABC News