pioneer

[ pahy-uh-neer ]

noun

1. a person who is among those who first enter or settle a region, thus opening it for occupation and development by others.
2. a person, group, or thing that is first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise, or development:

   a woman who was a pioneer in cancer research;

   vehicles that were pioneers of automotive engineering.

   Synonyms: innovator, groundbreaker, trailblazer, leader

3. one of a group of foot soldiers detailed to make roads, dig intrenchments, etc., in advance of the main body.
4. Ecology. an organism that successfully establishes itself in a barren area, thus starting an ecological cycle of life.
5. Pioneer, Aerospace. one of a series of U.S. space probes that explored the solar system and transmitted scientific information to earth.
6. Pioneer, (formerly) a member of a Communist organization in the Soviet Union for children ranging in age from 10 to 16. Compare Komsomol ( def 2 ), Octobrist ( def ).

verb (used without object)

1. to act as a pioneer.

verb (used with object)

1. to be the first to open or prepare (a way, settlement, etc.).
2. to take part in the beginnings of; initiate:

   to pioneer an aid program.

3. to lead the way for (a group); trailblaze.

adjective

1. being the earliest, original, first of a particular kind, etc.:

   a pioneer method of adult education.

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of pioneers:

   pioneer justice.

3. being a pioneer:

   a pioneer fur trader.

Pioneer

¹

/ ˌpaɪəˈnɪə /

noun

1. any of a series of US spacecraft that studied the solar system, esp Pioneer 10, which made the first flyby of Jupiter (1973), and Pioneer 11, which made the first flyby of Saturn (1979)

Pioneer

²

/ ˌpaɪəˈnɪə /

noun

1. a total abstainer from alcoholic drink, esp a member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, a society devoted to abstention

pioneer

³

/ ˌpaɪəˈnɪə /

noun

1. 1. a colonist, explorer, or settler of a new land, region, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      a pioneer wagon

2. an innovator or developer of something new
3. military a member of an infantry group that digs entrenchments, makes roads, etc
4. ecology the first species of plant or animal to colonize an area of bare ground

verb

1. to be a pioneer (in or of)
2. tr to initiate, prepare, or open up

   to pioneer a medical programme

Word History and Origins

Origin of pioneer¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from Middle French pionier, Old French peonier “foot soldier”; peon ¹, -eer

Word History and Origins

Origin of pioneer¹

C16: from Old French paonier infantryman, from paon pawn ²; see also peon ¹

Example Sentences

Through these years, Zuckerman was also the vice president of a separate Tanton-aligned organization called Californians for Population Stabilization, which had received funding from the Pioneer Fund, a far-right political group known for its support of eugenics.

From Salon

Folk-rock and country-rock pioneer Chris Hillman, the original bassist of the Byrds and co-founder of the Flying Burrito Brothers with Gram Parsons, hosts a show on Yoakam’s channel in which he traces the origins and influence of those genres as well as the California country sound.

From Los Angeles Times

Ella Jenkins, the prolific, multigenerational musical pioneer who became known as the “First Lady of Children’s Music,” died Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times

A soldier who was officially the only British woman to fight on the front line during World War One has been hailed as a "pioneer for women" by a local historian.

From BBC

For 15 years, Mr Gilliver has been a pioneer in the technique of light painting.

From BBC