trailblazer

American  

[treyl-bley-zer] / ˈtreɪlˌbleɪ zər /

noun

1. a person who blazes blaze a trail for others to follow through unsettled country or wilderness; pathfinder.

2. a pioneer in any field of endeavor.

   a trailblazer in science.

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trailblazer British  

/ ˈtreɪlˌbleɪzə /

noun

1. a leader or pioneer in a particular field

2. a person who blazes a trail

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Other Word Forms

• trailblazing adjective

Etymology

Origin of trailblazer

First recorded in 1905–10; trail + blaze ² + -er ¹

Compare meaning

How does trailblazer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• blazer vs. trailblazer

Example Sentences

And yet, one is being hailed a trailblazer, while the other is deemed a traitor.

From BBC

By the end of her life, Morrison had been set apart as an icon and trailblazer.

From The Wall Street Journal

OpenAI, the trailblazer for modern AI and the world’s most valuable startup, has committed to $1.4 trillion of infrastructure spending in the coming years.

From MarketWatch

Yoganathan's footballing journey has been well documented as a trailblazer for South Asians and the teenager insists it's all a bit "mad".

From BBC

Now ahead of the American ice dance trailblazers in one category, Chock and Bates are still trying to catch Davis and White in another.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• wanderer