innovation
Americannoun
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something new or different introduced.
numerous innovations in the high school curriculum.
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the act of innovating; introduction of new things or methods.
noun
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something newly introduced, such as a new method or device
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the act of innovating
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.
With the margin between winning gold and going home empty handed "hundredths of a second", two-time world champion Weston knows that innovation in aerodynamics is key to the "minor gains" needed.
From BBC
A year ago, growing capital expenditures spurred stock rallies in these names, as Wall Street perceived the investment as a sign of innovation.
From MarketWatch
The real innovation this moment demands is the rebuilding of our civic infrastructure.
From Salon
His coverage spans pharmaceutical innovation, healthcare policy, and the forces shaping how people eat and travel.
With the ability to source so much locally, Chinese humanoid companies are able to make design changes easily and at low cost, driving innovation.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
