pioneer

1 of 3

noun

pi·​o·​neer ˌpī-ə-ˈnir 

1

: a member of a military unit usually of construction engineers

2

a

: a person or group that originates or helps open up a new line of thought or activity or a new method or technical development

b

: one of the first to settle in a territory

3

: a plant or animal capable of establishing itself in a bare, barren, or open area and initiating an ecological cycle

pioneer

2 of 3

verb

pioneered; pioneering; pioneers

intransitive verb

: to act as a pioneer

pioneered in the development of airplanes

transitive verb

1

: to open or prepare for others to follow

also : settle

2

: to originate or take part in the development of

pioneer

3 of 3

adjective

1

: original, earliest

2

: relating to or being a pioneer

especially : of, relating to, or characteristic of early settlers or their time

Synonyms of pioneer

Noun

• settler
• colonist

Verb

• establish
• found
• initiate
• institute
• introduce
• launch
• create

Adjective

• first
• initial
• foremost
• original
• maiden
• earliest
• inaugural

Examples of pioneer in a Sentence

Noun

the pioneers who settled in the American West in the 19th century

the hardships that the pioneers endured while taming the wilderness

Verb

a painter who pioneered a new art form

The new method of cancer treatment was pioneered by an international team of researchers.

He helped pioneer a new route to the West.

He pioneered in the development of airplanes.

Adjective

the nation's pioneer institution for the education of African-Americans

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Embrace the slightly dystopian vibe and buy a bag of pellets from one of the old-timey pioneer stores to hand-feed the furry descendants. —Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026

Between the 1919 Black Sox scandal and the 2005 World Series title, two-time White Sox owner Bill Veeck was a sports marketing pioneer, literally adding fireworks to the fan experience with the first exploding scoreboard at the original Comiskey Park. —Ryan Baker, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026

Verb

The rising bicycle industry also pioneered industrial production techniques such as the assembly line, as well as modern magazine and poster advertising, before the auto industry. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2026

His many credits include performances with the New York Philharmonic, pioneering minimalist composer Philip Glass, genre-blurring singer Cecile McLorin Salvant and such past and present jazz powerhouses as Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath and Wynton and Branford Marsalis. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026

Adjective

In tandem with the modernist movement of the 20th century was the Danish concept of functionalism; a design philosophy of form follows function, which was introduced by pioneer Danish architects like Poul Henningsen and Vilhelm Lauritzen. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Middle French pionnier "worker employed on field fortifications who accompanies an army," going back to Old French peonier, pionier "foot soldier, laborer tasked with excavation," from peon, pion "foot soldier" + -ier -eer — more at pawn entry 1

Verb

derivative of pioneer entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of pioneer entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1780, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adjective

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pioneer

• auctioneer
• bandelier
• belvedere
• bombardier
• brigadier
• buccaneer
• cavalier
• chandelier
• chanticleer
• chevalier
• commandeer
• disappear

Kids Definition

pioneer

1 of 2 noun

pi·​o·​neer ˌpī-ə-ˈni(ə)r 

1

: a person or group that explores new areas of thought or activity

pioneers of American medicine

2

: one of the first to settle in an area : colonist

pioneer adjective

pioneer

2 of 2 verb

1

: to act as a pioneer

2

: to open or prepare for others to follow

especially : settle entry 2 sense 2a

3

: to begin or take part in the development of something new