Synonyms

pioneering

American

[pahy-uh-neer-ing] / ˌpaɪ əˈnɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

being a pioneer, one of the first to settle a region, thus opening it for occupation and development by others.

This early pioneering family helped open up western Victoria in Australia.
being among the first in any field of inquiry or activity; being among those spearheading an initiative of some kind.

Ours is a pioneering institution, continually advancing the understanding of medicine through groundbreaking research.
Ecology. (of an organism) successfully establishing itself in a barren area, thus starting an ecological cycle of life.

Pioneering species can initiate recovery on drastically disturbed sites like that of the former gas plant.

noun

the act or process of being a pioneer; the early settling of land, or the first forays into some type of activity.

I read about that forward-thinking doctor in an article on the pioneering of in vitro fertilization.

Other Word Forms

unpioneering adjective

Etymology

Origin of pioneering

First recorded in 1700–10; pioneer ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; pioneer ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun sense

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.

The pioneering Glacier Law, approved in 2010, prohibited all mining and exploration activities in glacier regions by protecting them as water reserves.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

She connects with Salonen’s pioneering fascination with technology and the orchestra.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

As a young postdoctoral scientist, he joined pioneering expeditions and descended more than a mile below the ocean surface in the submersible Alvin, where he observed thriving ecosystems in total darkness.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

"And never in a thousand years did I ever think that Victor would take it to heart and take it to the Moon, which is what he's done," the pioneering astronaut told AFP.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

The doctors took trips to France, the United States, Scotland, and Mexico to study new techniques that were being developed—especially those of French surgeon Paul Tessier, whose pioneering work was fundamental.

From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023