early adopter

American  

[ur-lee uh-dop-ter] / ˈɜr li əˈdɒp tər /

noun

1. a person who uses a new product or technology before it becomes widely known or used.

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early adopter British  

noun

1. one of the first people or organizations to make use of a new technology

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Etymology

Origin of early adopter

First recorded in 1845–50

Example Sentences

Gil had been an early adopter of e-commerce after his old store folded, and he made a nice living selling books on eBay and Amazon.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

As an “SCTV” early adopter, O’Hara was first attractive to me because she was funny, but she was also beautiful — a beauty she could subvert by a subtle or broad rearrangement of her features.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

Japan, which had always heavily relied on energy imports, was an early adopter of nuclear power.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

KRATSIOS: Government adoption never is at the pace that you see in the private sector, and you never should expect the government to be an early adopter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

By becoming not just an early adopter, but an outspoken supporter of quantum, the Nvidia boss is also positioning the world’s largest company for continued success.

From Barron's • Oct. 30, 2025