innovator
First to try
An innovator is someone who introduces new ideas, methods, or products.
The word carries connotations of creativity and forward thinking—innovators don't just improve existing things but bring genuinely novel approaches: Steve Jobs was an innovator in personal computing.
In business contexts, innovator often describes first movers who create markets rather than follow them.
First to forge ahead
- pathfinderOne who discovers routes
- groundbreakerInnovator, first to act
- forerunnerOne that comes before
- explorerOne who investigates unfamiliar regions
founder · discoverer · trendsetter · first-mover · experimenter · originator · pacesetter · vanguard
Creator of original devices
- designerOne who plans appearances
- builderOne who erects structures
- makerOne who produces
- developerOne who builds things
engineer · architect · fabricator · craftsperson · producer · founder · entrepreneur · technologist
One who overturns norms
- catalystAgent enabling change
- reformerAgent of institutional improvement
- modernizerOne who updates systems
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
activist · agitator · provocateur · influencer · transformer · mobilizer · radical · progressive
Tomorrow trends scholar
- dreamerOne given to fantasies
- idealistPursuer of noble principles
- strategistExpert in planning campaigns
- thinkerOne who contemplates
conceptualizer · thought-leader · seer · forecaster · utopian · anticipator · planner · theorist
Act of finding something
- inventionNew device or method
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- eurekaDiscovery triumph cry
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
leap · game-changer · disruption · milestone · advancement · revolution · transformation · cutting-edge
Clever, original thinking
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- inventivenessCapacity for original creation
- ideationForming mental concepts
- brainstormingGenerating many ideas freely
resourcefulness · cleverness · artistry · originality · inspiration · genius · problem-solving · experimentation
trailblazer
First to forge ahead
- pathfinderOne who discovers routes
- groundbreakerInnovator, first to act
- forerunnerOne that comes before
explorer · founder · discoverer · trendsetter · first-mover · experimenter · originator · pacesetter · vanguard · avant-garde
inventor
Creator of original devices
developer · engineer · architect · fabricator · craftsperson · producer · founder · entrepreneur · technologist · tinkerer
disruptor
One who overturns norms
- catalystAgent enabling change
- reformerAgent of institutional improvement
- modernizerOne who updates systems
revolutionary · activist · agitator · provocateur · influencer · transformer · mobilizer · radical · progressive · instigator
futurist
Tomorrow trends scholar
- dreamerOne given to fantasies
- idealistPursuer of noble principles
- strategistExpert in planning campaigns
thinker · conceptualizer · thought-leader · seer · forecaster · utopian · anticipator · planner · theorist · speculator
discovery
Act of finding something
- inventionNew device or method
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- eurekaDiscovery triumph cry
insight · leap · game-changer · disruption · milestone · advancement · revolution · transformation · cutting-edge · disruptive
ingenuity
Clever, original thinking
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- inventivenessCapacity for original creation
- ideationForming mental concepts
brainstorming · resourcefulness · cleverness · artistry · originality · inspiration · genius · problem-solving · experimentation · improvisation
- influencesparents, mentors, teachers, friends, peers
- innovationinvention, breakthrough, invent, create, inventors
- originatorsfounder, creator, inventor, pioneer, initiator
- talented peopleprodigy, genius, virtuoso, maestro, savant
- changemakersactivist, advocate, reformer, revolutionary, pioneer
- doersdoer, doers, workers, go-getter, makers
innovatortraditionalist
Adherent to established customs
conservative · preservationist · reactionary · Luddite · stick-in-the-mud
innovatorfollower
One who supports another
latecomer · laggard · late adopter · Johnny-come-lately · also-ran
- technological innovationsNew practical scientific applications
- product innovationCreating new market offerings
- innovative treatmentsNovel medical interventions
- tech innovationNovel technological breakthrough
- military innovationsNovel warfare technologies and tactics
- digital innovationNew electronic methods emerging
innovation, innovative, innovate, innovations, innovators, innovated, innovating, innovates, innovativeness