Pioneer — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˌpī-ə-ˈnir/ pi·o·neer

Meaning & Definition of Pioneer

Pioneer (noun)

  1. a member of a military unit usually of construction engineers
  2. a person or group that originates or helps open up a new line of thought or activity or a new method or technical development
  3. one of the first to settle in a territory

Pioneer (verb)

  1. to act as a pioneer
  2. to open or prepare for others to follow; also, settle
  3. to originate or take part in the development of

Pioneer (adjective)

  1. original, earliest
  2. relating to or being a pioneer; especially, of, relating to, or characteristic of early settlers or their time

Pioneer (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who settles in a new region

    "the hardships that the pioneers endured while taming the wilderness"

    similar: colonial, colonist, colonizer, frontiersman, homesteader, settler
    related: explorer, pathfinder, trailblazer, bushranger, mountain man, woodsman

Pioneer (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. coming before all others in time or order

    "the nation's pioneer institution for the education of African-Americans"

    similar: earliest, first, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, original, premier, virgin
    related: ancient, early, primal, primary, prime, primeval, primitive, primordial, antecedent, preceding, previous
    opposite: final, last, latest, latter, terminal, terminating, ultimate
    near: advanced, late, consequent, ensuing, following, subsequent, succeeding, penultimate

Pioneer (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of

    "he single-handedly pioneered the university's institute for medical research"

    similar: begin, constitute, establish, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, plant, set up, start
    related: author, father, originate, conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), create, devise, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture, produce, think (up), construct, put up, develop, enlarge, expand, endow, finance, fund, subsidize, arrange, organize, systematize, systemize, refound, reinitiate, reinstitute, relaunch
    opposite: close (down), phase out, shut (up)
    near: abolish, annihilate, annul, nullify, end, finish, halt, stop, terminate, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pioneer

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pioneer:

colonial, colonist, colonizer, frontiersman, homesteader, settler, earliest, first, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, original, premier, virgin, begin, constitute, establish, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, plant, set up, start

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pioneer

Words with the opposite meaning of Pioneer:

final, last, latest, latter, terminal, terminating, ultimate, close (down), phase out, shut (up)

Related Words for Pioneer

explorer, pathfinder, trailblazer, bushranger, mountain man, woodsman, ancient, early, primal, primary, prime, primeval, primitive, primordial, antecedent, preceding, previous, author, father, originate, conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), create, devise, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture

Near Antonyms of Pioneer

advanced, late, consequent, ensuing, following, subsequent, succeeding, penultimate, abolish, annihilate, annul, nullify, end, finish, halt, stop, terminate, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up

Word Forms of Pioneer

Inflections: pioneered, pioneering, pioneers

Origin & Etymology of Pioneer

borrowed from Middle French pionnier "worker employed on field fortifications who accompanies an army," going back to Old French peonier, pionier "foot soldier, laborer tasked with excavation," from peon, pion "foot soldier" + -ier -eer pawn:1

First known use: 1523

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Pioneer

Frequently Asked Questions about Pioneer

What does "Pioneer" mean?

"Pioneer" means a member of a military unit usually of construction engineers. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: a member of a military unit usually of construction engineers. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pioneer"?

Other words for "Pioneer" include colonial, colonist, colonizer, frontiersman, homesteader, settler, earliest and first. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pioneer" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pioneer"?

There are 79 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pioneer". Common alternatives include colonial, colonist, colonizer, frontiersman, homesteader, settler, earliest, first, foremost and headmost.

What is the opposite of "Pioneer"?

Antonyms of "Pioneer" include final, last, latest, latter, terminal, terminating, ultimate and close (down). Near antonyms include advanced, late, consequent and ensuing.

How do you use "Pioneer" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pioneer" in a sentence: "the hardships that the pioneers endured while taming the wilderness"; "the nation's pioneer institution for the education of African-Americans"; "he single-handedly pioneered the university's institute for medical research".

Is "Pioneer" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pioneer" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Pioneer" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Pioneer" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Pioneer"?

"Pioneer" is pronounced /ˌpī-ə-ˈnir/ and divided into syllables as pi·o·neer.