innovation

American  

[in-uh-vey-shuhn] / ˌɪn əˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

innovations plural

1. something new or different introduced.

   numerous innovations in the high school curriculum.

2. the act of innovating; introduction of new things or methods.

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innovation British  

/ ˌɪnəˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. something newly introduced, such as a new method or device

2. the act of innovating

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Usage

What does innovation mean? Innovation can refer to something new, such as an invention, or the practice of developing and introducing new things. An innovation is often a new product, but it can also be a new way of doing something or even a new way of thinking. Innovation is most commonly associated with business and technology, but it happens in any field where people introduce change, including the arts, medicine, politics, cooking, language—even philosophy and religion. Example: The internet changed society and is often considered the ultimate example of innovation, but it was built on the backs of many smaller, previous innovations.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• innovationist
  noun
• innovational
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• innovations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of innovation

First recorded in 1540–50; from Late Latin innovātiōn- (stem of innovātiō ); see origin at innovate, -ion

Explanation

An innovation is the introduction of something new. If you run a magazine about new technology, then you're constantly looking out for the next innovation. Innovation comes from Latin innovare for renew, whose root is novus or new. It can be used for either the act of introducing something new, as in a company that rewards creativity and innovation, or something that is newly introduced, like an innovation in microchip design. It was once used politically in the sense of revolution, but now you're most likely to hear it in relation to technology, or new ways of doing something.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

innovation innovations

There’s appetite for innovation, and there’s appetite for performance, but we have to earn the value every day, probably harder than we’ve had to in a long time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

This is because “Shopify’s pace of innovation, breadth of features, reliability, scalability, and extensibility are superior to free tools,” according to the analysts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Recent want ads show Amazon MGM Studios trying to find a principal AI executive and Walt Disney Studios advertising for a production innovation technologist job.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

He added: "Stone Cloak is the best of homegrown British innovation and proven on the frontline, and it will be vital to protecting our security in both our countries."

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

We agreed that the Wall Street CEO had no real ability to keep track of the frantic innovation occurring inside his firm.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

But he said if there were "requests and innovations" over the growing threat of wildfires, he would discuss this with the SFRS.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

The Taylor family is credited with helping to pioneer numerous innovations, from bagged salads to the U.S. industry’s first automated harvesters for romaine lettuce, cabbage and celery.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

“There are genuine algorithmic innovations in the model,” Silicon Data’s Hou said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

His innovations were honored with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ honorary Gordon E. Sawyer Award and an Academy Scientific and Technical Award, among other prizes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026

The show notes other Levitt innovations, inspired by the builder’s own vision of what constituted a childhood of privilege.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

Related Words

• modernization