pioneering

[ pahy-uh-neer-ing ]

adjective

1. being a pioneer, one of the first to settle a region, thus opening it for occupation and development by others:

   This early pioneering family helped open up western Victoria in Australia.

2. being among the first in any field of inquiry or activity; being among those spearheading an initiative of some kind:

   Ours is a pioneering institution, continually advancing the understanding of medicine through groundbreaking research.

3. Ecology. (of an organism) successfully establishing itself in a barren area, thus starting an ecological cycle of life:

   Pioneering species can initiate recovery on drastically disturbed sites like that of the former gas plant.

noun

1. the act or process of being a pioneer; the early settling of land, or the first forays into some type of activity:

   I read about that forward-thinking doctor in an article on the pioneering of in vitro fertilization.

Other Words From

• un·pi·o·neer·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pioneering¹

First recorded in 1700–10; pioneer ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; pioneer ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun sense

Example Sentences

The pioneering electric vehicle maker, which saw its stock surge after Trump’s win, has clashed with regulators over safety concerns around its self-driving software.

From Los Angeles Times

"Quincy understood it and got it right away," says pioneering artist, rapper and presenter Fab 5 Freddy.

From BBC

“His pioneering presence as a frontman and vocalist, both on stage and on our first two albums, will be very fondly remembered not just by us, but by fans around the world.”

From Los Angeles Times

A new book from Harvard scholar Keidrick Roy, “American Dark Age: Racial Feudalism and the Rise of Black Liberalism,” lays out their pioneering critique of the enduring power of feudalism on American thought, along with a coherent framework of liberal ideas shaped by their individual and collective lived experiences.

From Salon

Sarkar — who grew up in India and later, found himself in an array of prestigious kitchens across London and Dubai — has been at the forefront of pioneering modern Indian cuisine for the past 20-plus years.

From Salon

Related Words

• addition
• debut
• establishment
• inauguration
• influx
• initiation
• installation
• launch
• opening
• preface
• presentation