Meaning & use
be a trailblazer
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Meanings
phraselinkingapproving
to be the first person to do something new and important, showing others the way
Grammar: Used with a singular subject: She is a trailblazer. For a group, say they are trailblazers.
Patterns
- be a trailblazer in something
- be a trailblazer for something
Marie Curie was a trailblazer in the study of radioactivity.
If you want to be a trailblazer, you have to accept some risk.
She was a trailblazer for women in engineering.
phraselinkingapproving
to be the first to use or develop a new method, product, or idea
Grammar: Often followed by in + field or activity: be a trailblazer in medicine.
Patterns
- be a trailblazer in something
- be a trailblazer with something
The company was a trailblazer in electric car design.
He was a trailblazer with his use of digital maps in the classroom.
Common combinations
- a true trailblazer
- She was a true trailblazer in her field.
- a trailblazer for women
- The pilot was a trailblazer for women in aviation.
- a trailblazer in technology
- He is known as a trailblazer in technology.
- be remembered as a trailblazer
- She will be remembered as a trailblazer.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pioneer
- Pioneer is a noun or verb meaning the same, but it can also be used for someone who settles in a new place; trailblazer is more about new ideas or methods.
- innovator
- Innovator focuses on creating new things, while trailblazer emphasizes being the first to do something and leading others.
- groundbreaker
- Groundbreaker is very similar but less common; trailblazer is more often used in business and social contexts.
Opposites
Word family
- trailblazing adjective
- Describing new and original work that leads the way.
- trailblazer noun
- A person who is the first to do something new.
Commonly confused: be a trailblazer or trendsetter?
be a trailblazer vs trendsetter
A trendsetter starts a fashion or popular style, while a trailblazer does something more serious and original, like a new scientific method.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'be a trailblazer' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly uses 'be a trailblazer in' with a field. Option 1 is wrong because a trailblazer leads, not follows. Option 2 has a plural subject with a singular noun. Option 3 uses 'for' with a verb incorrectly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “be a trailblazer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.