pacer

noun

pac·​er ˈpā-sər 

1

: one that paces

specifically : a horse whose predominant gait is the pace

2

: pacemaker

Synonyms

• bellwether
• leader
• pacemaker
• pacesetter
• trendsetter

Examples of pacer in a Sentence

a highly competitive industry in which any company that isn't a pacer quickly becomes a belly-up also-ran

Recent Examples on the Web

The most interesting one here, to my mind, is the parallel between the use of human pacers and the use of pacing lights. —Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 31 July 2024

Unregistered participants are not permitted on the course, including unofficial pacers. —Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2023

Only 22 Camp fire victims were identified using conventional methods, including fingerprints, dental records and surgical devices, such as knee replacements, breast implants and pacer machines, according to a 2020 study in the Journal of Forensic Sciences. —Jenny Jarvie, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Sep. 2023

Where the new findings differ substantially is in the positions of the pacers out front. —Popular Science, 24 Aug. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

pacer

noun

pac·​er ˈpā-sər 

: pacemaker sense 2

electronic cardiac pacers