pioneer

1 of 3

noun

pi·​o·​neer ˌpī-ə-ˈnir How to pronounce pioneer (audio)
Synonyms of pioneernext
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

Verb

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Collins went on to join another funk pioneer: George Clinton, whose alternating bands Parliament and Funkadelic were innovating a looser, more improvisational and funnier style that would help define Black music in the ’70s. — Steve Knopper, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2025 It’s been sweet watching the sound expand overseas, the seeds of inspo traveling way further than the pioneers intended. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
The two surgeons who founded it had pioneered techniques that used a woman’s own body tissue to form new breasts post mastectomy. — T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 Apr. 2025 In Weekend 2 Take epigenetic reprogramming, a field pioneered by Harvard scientists, which aims to restore youthful function to aging cells. — Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 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 See All Example Sentences for pioneer

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pioneer was in 1523

Rhymes for pioneer

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Browse Nearby Words

pion
pioneer
Pioneer Day
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Cite this Entry

“Pioneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pioneer. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

pioneer

1 of 2 noun
pi·​o·​neer ˌpī-ə-ˈni(ə)r How to pronounce pioneer (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on pioneer

Nglish: Translation of pioneer for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pioneer

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