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

Noun

• colonial
• colonist
• colonizer
• frontiersman
• homesteader
• settler

Verb

• begin
• constitute
• establish
• found
• inaugurate
• initiate
• innovate
• institute
• introduce
• launch
• plant
• set up
• start

Adjective

• earliest
• first
• foremost
• headmost
• inaugural
• initial
• leadoff
• maiden
• original
• premier
• virgin

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

And Dana Walden was sort of a pioneer both at Fox’s studio and then at the network of things that were edgy. —Josef Adalian, Vulture, 2 May 2025

Since 1997, Powertec has been a pioneer in innovative home and commercial strength equipment, bringing the gym experience into clients’ homes and facilities. —Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 1 May 2025

Verb

While anaerobic digestion is not a new technology and has long been used in agricultural settings, the campus is pioneering a closed-loop, zero-waste system that returns municipal food waste to the soil in the form of nutrient-rich compost and to the power grid in the form of renewable energy. —Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2025

At sea, Ansar Allah has also pioneered in the use of unmanned naval drones as well as anti-ship cruise missiles, some of which appear to be based on Iranian and older Chinese and Soviet platforms. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025

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