Words / B2

peye-uh-NEER/ˌpaɪəˈnɪə/

A pioneer is an early leader in a field: a pioneer of comprehensive schooling; space pioneers. Founder started an organisation; innovator is wider. As a verb: pioneer a method. She was a pioneer of the borough’s comprehensives. Do not call a late adopter a pioneer.

Meaning

A person who is one of the first to do something new.

Examples

• “She was a pioneer of comprehensive schooling in the borough.”
• “The lab pioneered the swab test, which is the verb sense.”

Good to know

a pioneer of + field; pioneer a method. Close: founder / innovator. News, history, and science. First in the field, not merely successful.

Near in meaning

innovator

New