early adopter

American  

[ur-lee uh-dop-ter] / ˈɜr li əˈdɒp tər /

noun

1. a person who uses a new product or technology before it becomes widely known or used.

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early adopter British  

noun

1. one of the first people or organizations to make use of a new technology

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Etymology

Origin of early adopter

First recorded in 1845–50

Example Sentences

Gil had been an early adopter of e-commerce after his old store folded, and he made a nice living selling books on eBay and Amazon.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

As an “SCTV” early adopter, O’Hara was first attractive to me because she was funny, but she was also beautiful — a beauty she could subvert by a subtle or broad rearrangement of her features.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

Japan, which had always heavily relied on energy imports, was an early adopter of nuclear power.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

By becoming not just an early adopter, but an outspoken supporter of quantum, the Nvidia boss is also positioning the world’s largest company for continued success.

From Barron's • Oct. 30, 2025

Starting Tuesday, you can apply to its early adopter program and preorder one for $20,000, with delivery expected in 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025