pathbreaker

[ path-brey-ker, pahth- ]

noun

1. a person who blazes a trail or path; pathfinder.
2. a pioneer or innovator.

Example Sentences

Rovner, who has been a pathbreaker all her life, was the first woman to sit on the 7th Circuit; during more than 30 years of service, she became the conscience of the court, consistently defending the rights of those whom society scorns or overlooks.

From Slate

Only a churl would deny Madonna the right to a victory lap, so monumental is her standing in pop history — not just as a maker of indelible songs and genre-defining videos but also as a cultural pathbreaker whose commitment to feminist and queer ideals continues to open lanes in the mainstream even now.

From Los Angeles Times

Elliott becomes the first female hip-hop artist in the rock hall, which called her “a true pathbreaker in a male-dominated genre.”

From Seattle Times

“This is devastating news. I am shocked at the passing of Lieutenant Governor Oliver. Sheila is a pathbreaker and has been one of the foremost leaders of our great state for decades. I am still processing this,” Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. said in a statement.

From Washington Times

Elliott, the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, an MTV Video Vanguard Award recipient and a four-time Grammy Award winner, now becomes the first female hip-hop artist in the rock hall, which called her “a true pathbreaker in a male-dominated genre.”

From Seattle Times