noun
-
a leader or pioneer in a particular field
-
a person who blazes a trail
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of trailblazer
Compare meaning
How does trailblazer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A trailblazer is a person who's the first to do something, whether it's marking a new path through the woods or discovering a cure for cancer. A literal trailblazer blazes, or marks, trails in the wilderness. She does this by making marks or signs on trees and rocks at regular distances along a trail in order to help other hikers find their way. Figurative trailblazers can also be called pioneers or groundbreakers. These are innovators who make strides in fields like science, medicine, or education.
Vocabulary lists containing trailblazer
Chew On This
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for September 30–October 6, 2023
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"In Defense of a Liberal Education" by Fareed Zakaria
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
India and arch-rivals Pakistan will clash for Asian Games cricket gold as Philippines tennis trailblazer Alexandra Eala suffered a shock semi-final exit on Thursday in Japan.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
U.K. regulators said the service’s launch cements Wayve as a technology trailblazer in the country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
And although he doesn't see himself as a trailblazer, he does want to be remembered as someone that charted a course for others after him.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
He was regarded as a trailblazer against the one-party rule that marked Mexico for much of the 20th century.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
But Liszt was a trailblazer, an experimenter, a pacesetter.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Amid the uncertainty, longevity doctors view themselves—and their patients—as trailblazers.
From Barron's ● May 21, 2026
"This exhibition not only honours his legacy but also reconnects Birmingham with one of its most significant cultural trailblazers," said Melanie Williams, from Colmore.
From BBC ● May 17, 2026
"We've had trailblazers in the past and the bar is higher now," he said.
From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2026
As some tech trailblazers in recent years have become more comfortable with developing weapons, Southern California has emerged as a hub for defense tech startups.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2026
This new initiative would be composed of American trailblazers in women’s sports who embody and support the secretary and department’s efforts to empower women and girls globally through sport.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
