English Reference
Noun

innovator

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈɪnəˌveɪtɝ/ UK /ˈɪnəvˌeɪtɐ/ in·no·va·tor UK spelling innovators

n.a person who introduces new methods, ideas, or products. You use this to describe someone who changes how things are done by being creative.

n.a person who introduces new methods, ideas, or products. Often used in business and technology contexts to describe those who drive significant change.


SIMPLE

She is a leading innovator in the field of green energy.

CONTEXTUAL

The company is looking for a creative innovator who can help them redesign their mobile app for a younger audience.

COMPLEX

History remembers the bold innovator not just for the novelty of their invention, but for the persistence required to convince a skeptical public of its utility.

Lawson, one of the few Black developers among gaming’s early innovators, was a tinkerer from a young age.

Smithsonian Magazine· 16 Jun 2026

From Late Latin innovātor, from innovō; equivalent to innovate + -or.

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

This entry
Origin la-lat innovātor
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated