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
Restaurant Ark: Holding a prestigious Michelin Green Star, Ark is a pioneer in vegan fine dining. — Michele Robson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025 German production house Bavaria Fiction has become a green pioneer by securing validation for its headquarters under the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, the world’s most demanding environmental management system, and ISO 14001 Certification. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
In August, Grenier will feature pioneering South Florida chef Dean Max’s Glazed Black Grouper ($52) on the Burlock Coast menu. — Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 30 July 2025 Joining in 2013 to help launch Plimsoll, Holmes is credited with pioneered a new genre of natural-history storytelling, shaping a slate the company says helped define its global identity. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 July 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 14 Aug. 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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