groundbreaking

American

[ground-brey-king] / ˈgraʊndˌbreɪ kɪŋ /

noun

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

adjective

of or relating to such a ceremony.
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.

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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.

It takes an elusive alchemy of skill, knowledge and resources—with a dash of good luck—to introduce a groundbreaking, or even life-changing, invention to the world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

It was her third album, and the first to establish her as a groundbreaking performer on par with her more famous brother, Michael.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 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

She describes life as "very chaotic, very up and down", until the NHS approved the use of groundbreaking new drug Trikafta, also known as Kaftrio, in 2020.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

“You wanna do the groundbreaking this Wednesday? What about the site clearing?”

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023