a person who is among those who first enter or settle a region, thus opening it for occupation and development by others.
a person, group, or thing that is first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise, or development.
a woman who was a pioneer in cancer research;
vehicles that were pioneers of automotive engineering.
one of a group of foot soldiers detailed to make roads, dig intrenchments, etc., in advance of the main body.
Ecology. an organism that successfully establishes itself in a barren area, thus starting an ecological cycle of life.
Aerospace. Pioneer, one of a series of U.S. space probes that explored the solar system and transmitted scientific information to earth.
Pioneer, (formerly) a member of a Communist organization in the Soviet Union for children ranging in age from 10 to 16.
to be the first to open or prepare (a way, settlement, etc.).
to take part in the beginnings of; initiate.
to pioneer an aid program.
to lead the way for (a group); trailblaze.
being the earliest, original, first of a particular kind, etc..
a pioneer method of adult education.
of, relating to, or characteristic of pioneers.
pioneer justice.
being a pioneer.
a pioneer fur trader.
a colonist, explorer, or settler of a new land, region, etc
( as modifier )
a pioneer wagon
an innovator or developer of something new
military a member of an infantry group that digs entrenchments, makes roads, etc
ecology the first species of plant or animal to colonize an area of bare ground
to be a pioneer (in or of)
(tr) to initiate, prepare, or open up
to pioneer a medical programme
First recorded in 1515–25; from Middle French pionier, Old French peonier “foot soldier”; see origin at peon 1, -eer
A pioneer is one of the first settlers in a new place. If you desperately want to experience life in space, maybe you will be one of the pioneers who live in the first moon settlement. Pioneer comes from the old French for foot soldier or laborer, and particularly for groups of soldiers that would go out ahead of the rest of the troops to prepare the way. The European settlers who came to America in the 16th century are known as pioneers, as are the later groups who traveled West in the 18th and 19th centuries. We also use pioneer for anyone who takes initiative in a field, such as science or education.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The move leaves Germany, an early pioneer in the airspace industry, without a fighter-aircraft program to work on.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
Shares of the space tourism pioneer dived 39% in Tuesday trading, closing at $4.59.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
The fertile soils south of the Rhine-Meuse wetlands had attracted pioneer Neolithic farmer-colonists as early as 5,500BC.
From Science Daily • May 30, 2026
Still, she is not seen by the masses as a pioneer, a term that brings to mind scientists and suffragettes.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
“Would you care for a hot dog? I extend the same courteous service to all colors and creeds. Paradise Vendors has been a pioneer in the field of public accommodations.”
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
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.
