pioneer
n. countable C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˌpaɪəˈnɪɹ// UK //paɪənˈiə// pi·o·neer
n. one of the first people to do something new, like move to a new land or start a new area of study. You use this to describe someone who leads the way for others to follow.
n. a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area, or who develops new ideas and techniques in a particular field.
She was a pioneer in the field of heart surgery.
The early pioneers who traveled across the continent faced many hardships before they could establish their new homes.
While often celebrated as a pioneer of modern architecture, his early sketches reveal a deep debt to classical forms that he would later reject in favor of minimalist steel structures.
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of' or 'in' to specify the field of achievement.