innovation

noun

in·​no·​va·​tion ˌi-nə-ˈvā-shən 

1

: a new idea, method, or device : novelty

She is responsible for many innovations in her field.

the latest technological innovations

What was once a wacky innovation has become a fact of getting around.

—Justin Davidson

2

: the introduction of something new

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

Live music is nice, but there's a lot of innovation that can happen in the music video.

—Grimes, quoted in Rolling Stone

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 of innovation

• invention
• creation

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

Ukraine continues to see high desertion rates and draft-avoidance, adding to its serious manpower issues and Kyiv’s drone advantage has been eroded by swift Russian learning and innovation. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025

Glatt has over 25 years of experience in private practice and in-house at one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers, with a particular focus on complex transactions, strategic product innovation and capital raising for asset management firms and financial institutions. —Joseph Glatt, Sportico.com, 21 Nov. 2025

The state has a climate that embraces technological innovation and a rapidly growing AI sector. —Stefani Langehennig, The Conversation, 21 Nov. 2025

This high-power laser will see our Royal Navy at the leading edge of innovation in NATO, delivering a cutting-edge capability to help defend the UK and our allies in this new era of threat. —MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for innovation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

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