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Synonyms

innovation

American  
[in-uh-vey-shuhn] / ˌɪn əˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. something new or different introduced.

    numerous innovations in the high school curriculum.

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


innovation British  
/ ˌɪnəˈveɪʃən /

noun

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

  2. the act of innovating

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

  • innovational adjective
  • innovationist noun

Etymology

Origin of innovation

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

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.

“We’re very focused on the things that we believe are critical for future innovation and things that will differentiate our products over time,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the rebuttal address by the opposition party, a modern innovation that is again a function of television.

From The Wall Street Journal

Over the past five years, China has launched a massive program to build the world’s most powerful fusion science facilities for military applications and energy innovation.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the flip side of the coin is that AI might restore competition and revive innovation within an economy that has steadily become more concentrated for decades.

From Barron's

Meanwhile, new AI coding tools have generated security concerns of their own, necessitating faster innovation from existing security providers.

From Barron's