Two-color resonance two-photon ionization and mass analyzed threshold ionization spectra of 2-aminobenzonitrile have been obtained. The band origin of the S-1 <- S-0 transition and the precise ionization energy (IE) were determined to be 31,265 +/- 2 cm(-1) and 66,653 +/- 5 cm(-1), respectively. The most active modes in the S-1 and D-0 states are related to the in-plane ring vibrations. The relative errors of IE estimated by CBS-QB3 and G4 are -0.18% and + 1.47%, respectively. The theoretical calculations well support our experimental findings. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.