innovator

American  

[in-uh-vey-ter] / ˈɪn əˌveɪ tər /

noun

• innovators
  plural

1. a person or group that introduces something new or does something for the first time.

   He is a true pioneer and innovator who always pushes the boundaries and follows his visions.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• innovators
  plural

Etymology

Origin of innovator

First recorded in 1590–1600; Late Latin innovātor, equivalent to Latin innovāt(us) + -or -or ² ( def. ); see innovate ( def. )

Explanation

Innovators innovate — that is, they create new ideas or ways of doing things. The Wright brothers were the ultimate innovators: they were the first to fly. The Unites States has a reputation as a country of innovators because, for generations, many of the world's most exciting new ideas came from its people and companies. Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, Mark Zuckerberg: these are just three of the innovators who pioneered whole new technologies and industries. No one had thought the way they did before. Anyone who blazes a trail into new territory can be an innovator — athletes, artists, business people, and chefs, to name just a few.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

innovator innovators

The way they are dealing with these calls is attracting attention from around the globe - I wanted to find out how it's going, and if Wales is an outlier or an innovator?

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

Although Brian Wilson was widely regarded as a musical savant and the innovator of the group, Love received co-writing credit on classics including “California Girls” and “Good Vibrations.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

That was when Lee Ellen Drechsler, a top R&D executive, stood at a whiteboard with two of the company’s most accomplished scientists: paper-towel pioneer Paul Trokhan and dish-soap innovator Mark Sivik.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

"John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor," Cook said when his successor was revealed.

From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026

It was named after Robert Metcalfe, an electrical engineer and innovator who helped develop the Ethernet computing standard used to connect computers over short distances.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

The deal will be a "major victory for innovators and consumers worldwide" if Nvidia keeps Hugging Face open and accessible, he added.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

There was just one problem: That conference boasted one of the greatest collections of pro-level quarterbacks and coaching innovators the sport had ever seen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

“The record number of California students we’re welcoming this year reflects UC’s enduring commitment to expanding opportunity while preparing the next generation of leaders, innovators, educators and public servants.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

He noted that Mastercard successfully transitioned into the era of mobile commerce in the past and today has partnerships with agentic-AI innovators and cryptocurrency players.

From MarketWatch ● May 25, 2026

Europe’s fragmentation did, and China’s unity didn’t, foster the advance of technology, science, and capitalism by fostering competition between states and providing innovators with alternative sources of support and havens from persecution.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond