noun
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a leader or pioneer in a particular field
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a person who blazes a trail
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of trailblazer
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How does trailblazer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A trailblazer is a person who's the first to do something, whether it's marking a new path through the woods or discovering a cure for cancer. A literal trailblazer blazes, or marks, trails in the wilderness. She does this by making marks or signs on trees and rocks at regular distances along a trail in order to help other hikers find their way. Figurative trailblazers can also be called pioneers or groundbreakers. These are innovators who make strides in fields like science, medicine, or education.
Vocabulary lists containing trailblazer
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for September 30–October 6, 2023
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"In Defense of a Liberal Education" by Fareed Zakaria
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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.
UFC fighter Angela Hill has packed plenty into her 41 years, but the veteran trailblazer from the United States is not done yet.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
King became a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ and women’s civil rights and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 in part for her advocacy for equality.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
Gina Carano is a trailblazer in women’s mixed martial arts.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026
And yet, one is being hailed a trailblazer, while the other is deemed a traitor.
From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026
As a matter of fact, she didn't even wait for Whit to answer and instead saved herself the frustration by being the trailblazer for the rest of us and getting in position.
From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds
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.
