groundbreaking

American  

[ground-brey-king] / ˈgraʊndˌbreɪ kɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or ceremony of breaking ground for a new construction project.

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adjective

1. of or relating to such a ceremony.

2. originating or pioneering a new endeavor, field of inquiry, or the like.

   Pasteur's groundbreaking work in bacteriology.

Etymology

Origin of groundbreaking

First recorded in 1905–10; ground ¹ + break + -ing ¹, -ing ²

Explanation

Something groundbreaking is brand new, important, and original, like groundbreaking research that proves your cat really does love you. As a noun, groundbreaking is the traditional way of marking the very first day of a building project, when the ground is officially "broken," either literally with a shovel or figuratively. You could even attend the groundbreaking of a groundbreaking new hotel that's heated and cooled with sustainable geothermal energy. This word comes from the phrase to break ground, originally used to describe both construction and planting crops.

Example Sentences

The budget “reinforces U.S. leadership in space science through groundbreaking missions, completed research, and next-generation observatories,” Isaacman wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026

Their work was just as critical, just as groundbreaking, just as influential as their male counterparts.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

The fund, with an expense ratio of 0.09%, was widely considered groundbreaking as the first popular ETF when it hit the market in 1993.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

A groundbreaking comedy for its time, it paved the way for other sketch comedy that followed using the same formula, more or less, such as “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” and “Saturday Night Live.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

She mesmerized lecture halls of students with her drama and passion, with ideas critics called daring and groundbreaking.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

Related Words

• innovative
• revolutionary