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

In a March 7, 2025, X/Twitter post, early Bitcoin pioneer Charlie Shrem reflected on the momentous shift in policy. —Tonya M. Evans, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

Throughout his career, Ayers established himself as a pioneer of jazz-funk and was largely influential on the neo-soul movement. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025

Verb

Kettle & Fire has also spent the past nine years pioneering a return to what the soup and stock aisles used to look like—products filled with fortifying natural ingredients. —Chloe Sorvino, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025

Smith, a former newspaper beat reporter who rose to fame by pioneering the art of the sports debate show, has agreed with ESPN on a new five-year, $100 million contract, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to CNBC. —Andrew Greif, NBC News, 7 Mar. 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