advancement
Americannoun
-
advancements
plural
-
the act or process of moving forward.
They hoped that destroying bridges around the metropolis would slow the advancement of enemy troops.
-
promotion in rank or standing; preferment.
She had high hopes for advancement in the company.
-
development toward increased understanding, quality, utility, or benefit to human welfare in a consequential area of knowledge, technology, or practice.
She toiled in the lab out of personal ambition, not for the advancement of medical science.
-
an achievement or result contributing to progress in a consequential area of knowledge, technology, or practice.
Advancements in robotics will transform industry.
-
Law. money or property given by one person during their lifetime to another that is considered an anticipation of an inheritance and is therefore to be deducted from any share that the recipient may have in a donor's estate.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of advancement
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English avauncement, from Anglo-French, Old French avancement; see advance, -ment
Explanation
Use the noun advancement when you talk about something's growth or progress. The advancement of modern medicine has lengthened many people's lives. You might describe a society's advancement as a result of new industries and an improved economy. You could also cheer your best friend's advancement in her French class, being moved to a higher level because of her hard work. When you advance, you move forward — either literally or figuratively. Advancement comes from this idea of moving in a positive direction and its Old French root word avancier, "move forward," from the Late Latin abante, "in front."
Vocabulary lists containing advancement
The Mayflower Compact (1620)
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!
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 9
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!
Lesson 6
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:
During the visit, Xi called for artificial intelligence to remain “under human control” as the two countries race for technological advancement in the industry.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
Since headlines broke about claims AI advancement could lead to human extinction, James Downs has felt his anxiety rising.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
By one account, he has blocked the advancement of more than 80 generals and admirals.
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026
Diametrically opposed to the doomers are the accelerationists, who believe in technology's advancement, its inevitability and its fundamental benefit for society -- and who also make their fortunes on its success.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
I don’t think there is a single teacher here at Miss Preston’s who isn’t completely devoted to our prospects for advancement….
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
By the ‘40s and ‘50s, the postwar home and its many accouterments — powered by wartime advancements, growing abundance and an ethos of “buy now, pay later” — amplified the promise.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
But the dramatic advancements made in AI over the last several years has finally made it something that scares people almost as much as nuclear weapons or the hand of God.
From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026
The announcement marked a new stage in the major powers' rush for military space capabilities, driven by rapid technological advancements but lacking a comprehensive legal framework.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
Jacob Coxon told the BBC he and other staff were "genuinely frightened" about the speed of advancements and what it could mean for humanity.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
These advancements came too late for James Garfield.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
Definitions 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.
