# innovative

/ˈɪnəˌveɪtɪv/ (US) · /ˈɪnəvˌeɪtɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/innovative
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. new and original

adjective · CEFR B2 · General-service

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

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

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

### 2. forward-thinking

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

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

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

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

## Examples

- The company is famous for its innovative phone designs.
- The school won an award for its innovative approach to teaching science through virtual reality games.
- While many competitors focused on incremental improvements, the startup's innovative architecture allowed for a complete reimagining of how data could be processed in real time.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.