innovation

noun

in·​no·​va·​tion ˌi-nə-ˈvā-shən 

1

: a new idea, method, or device : novelty

2

: the introduction of something new

innovational

ˌi-nə-ˈvā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Did you know?

What is the difference between innovation and invention?

The words innovation and invention overlap semantically but are really quite distinct.

Invention can refer to a type of musical composition, a falsehood, a discovery, or any product of the imagination. The sense of invention most likely to be confused with innovation is “a device, contrivance, or process originated after study and experiment,” usually something which has not previously been in existence.

Innovation, for its part, can refer to something new or to a change made to an existing product, idea, or field. One might say that the first telephone was an invention, the first cellular telephone either an invention or an innovation, and the first smartphone an innovation.

Synonyms

• brainchild
• coinage
• concoction
• contrivance
• creation
• invention
• wrinkle

Examples of innovation in a Sentence

She is responsible for many innovations in her field.

the latest innovation in computer technology

Through technology and innovation, they found ways to get better results with less work.

the rapid pace of technological innovation

Recent Examples on the Web

With better data came a shift to a quality-over-quantity approach, and advertisers began to consider factors such as ad placement, page load and creative innovation—all gauged with yet more data. —Sergii Denysenko, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

Because of their thermodynamic innovation, this Yeti tumbler will keep cold brew cold or hot drip hot longer than any of the competition. —Red Fabbri, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2024

Being honored for her contributions to the fashion industry and longstanding commitment to British excellence and innovation, the doyenne of the family business was appointed to the board of directors in 1968 after the sudden death of her husband, John Barbour. —Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 2 Dec. 2024

When selecting new innovation projects, some committees prize consensus — and thus end up funding only ideas whose success is plain to see, which is often an incremental innovation. —Ronald Klingebiel lucas Böttcher, Harvard Business Review, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

innovation

noun

in·​no·​va·​tion ˌin-ə-ˈvā-shən 

1

: the introduction of something new

2

: a new idea, method, or device