Meaning & use
innovators
Last updated
“innovators” is a form of “innovator”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
People who introduce new ideas, methods or products, especially ones that change how something is done.
Grammar: Plural of innovator; often followed by in or of: innovators in medicine.
Patterns
- innovators in something
- innovators of something
Silicon Valley attracts innovators from all over the world.
The festival honors young innovators in clean energy.
Many innovators fail several times before one idea works.
nounpluralbusinesstechnical
In business studies, the first small group of customers who try a new product before most people do.
Grammar: Used in the diffusion of innovation model, usually with early adopters.
Patterns
- innovators and early adopters
Innovators bought the first smartphones before the technology was reliable.
Marketers target innovators and early adopters first.
Innovators make up only a tiny share of the market.
Word forms
| singular | innovator |
|---|
Common combinations
- young innovators
- The program supports young innovators with small grants.
- tech innovators
- Tech innovators gathered at the conference.
- leading innovators
- The firm is among the leading innovators in battery design.
- innovators and early adopters
- Innovators and early adopters spread the word first.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pioneers
- Pioneers are the first to explore or develop an area, while innovators are known mainly for new ideas or methods.
- inventors
- Inventors create new devices, whereas innovators may improve or apply existing ideas in a new way.
- trailblazers
- Trailblazers stress being first and inspiring others, so the word is more dramatic than innovators.
- originators
- Originators start an idea or movement, while innovators bring something new into use.
Opposites
Word family
- innovate verb
- to introduce new methods or ideas
- innovation noun
- a new idea, method or product
- innovator noun
- a person who introduces new ideas
- innovative adjective
- using new and original ideas
Commonly confused: innovators or inventors?
innovators vs inventors
Inventors make something that did not exist before, such as a machine. Innovators bring new thinking into existing products or methods.
Practice
The prize is awarded to ____ who find new ways to reduce waste.
Choose one answer.
Innovators are people who introduce new methods, which fits finding new ways to reduce waste. Traditionalists prefer old methods, so that option is the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “innovators”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.