advancement

American  

[ad-vans-muhnt, -vahns-] / ædˈvæns mənt, -ˈvɑns- /

noun

1. the act or process of moving forward.

   They hoped that destroying bridges around the metropolis would slow the advancement of enemy troops.

2. promotion in rank or standing; preferment.

   She had high hopes for advancement in the company.

3. 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.

4. an achievement or result contributing to progress in a consequential area of knowledge, technology, or practice.

   Advancements in robotics will transform industry.

5. 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.

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advancement British  

/ ədˈvɑːnsmənt /

noun

1. promotion in rank, status, etc; preferment

2. a less common word for advance advance

3. property law the use during a testator's lifetime of money or property for the benefit of a child or other person who is a prospective beneficiary in the testator's will

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Other Word Forms

• nonadvancement noun
• self-advancement noun

Etymology

Origin of advancement

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English avauncement, from Anglo-French, Old French avancement; 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."

Example Sentences

Like e-bikes, every advancement creates a host of new problems — hackers, identity theft, system failures, increased energy demands.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Melinda Schuerfranz, 76, remembers the Apollo days, when everyone would gather around the television to watch scientific advancement in action.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Owens added that “the advancement of these capabilities should serve to further accelerate the need for organizations to improve cyber defenses and fight AI with AI.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026

The 22 companies that got high marks across the board in the Where You Work Matters List share several practices, from hiring people early in their careers to training them relentlessly and aiding their advancement.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

The only kid with enough points for advancement was Elliot, but I was surprised to see how many points my fellow classmates had managed to accumulate while I avoided the tests like the plague.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• advance
• growth
• improvement
• upgrading