English Reference
adjective

innovative

adj.
US /ˈɪnəˌveɪtɪv/ UK /ˈɪnəvˌeɪtɪv/ in·no·va·tive

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate General-service

    using new ideas or methods that have not been tried before.

    featuring new methods or original ideas; characterized by the introduction of something novel.

    Simple

    The company won an award for its innovative design of a foldable smartphone.

    In context

    The startup's innovative approach to renewable energy storage has attracted significant interest from international investors looking for sustainable solutions.

    Usage

    Often used to describe technology, business strategies, or creative designs.

    originalgroundbreakingnovelinventive
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    thinking about the future and using new ways to improve things.

    forward-looking and ahead of current mainstream thinking or established practices.

    Simple

    Our teacher uses innovative methods to help us learn English faster.

    In context

    The professor is known for her innovative research into cognitive linguistics, which challenges several long-held assumptions in the field.

    Usage

    Commonly used in academic or professional contexts to describe leaders or theories.

Usage appreciation innovative · merit innovative

McKee, a fifth-year student in Cork, had won plaudits in Ireland for developing an innovative communication system, with two of his classmates, for people suffering from nonverbal autism.

The Guardian· 15 Aug 2026

Although further validation and testing are required, this innovative Ei gene switch represents a promising platform for developing noninvasive, remotely controlled gene therapies.

Phys.org· 17 Aug 2026

From innovate + -ive.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated