trailblazer
Trailblazer (noun) means a person who is the first to do something important, opening the way for others to follow. Example: “She was a trailblazer for women in orchestral conducting.”
How to use trailblazer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe first person to do something, making it possible for others.
Positive and slightly celebratory, common in profiles, obituaries and award citations. The related adjective is trailblazing.
A trailblazer is defined by others following. Someone brilliant but isolated, whose approach nobody adopted, is better called a maverick.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was a _____ for women in orchestral conducting.
Etymology
A compound of trail and blaze in its sense of marking trees with cuts to show a route through forest.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for trailblazer
See all rhymes for trailblazer →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a trailblazer and a pioneer?
They are close synonyms, but trailblazer emphasises clearing the way so others can follow, while pioneer emphasises being first into unfamiliar territory. Pioneer is also used for the settlers of new regions in a literal historical sense that trailblazer largely lacks today.
Where does the word trailblazer come from?
From the practice of blazing a trail, which meant cutting marks into tree bark so that a route through forest could be found again. The marks themselves were called blazes, and the person who made them was the trailblazer.
What is the meaning of trailblazer?
"trailblazer" (noun) means a person who is the first to do something important, opening the way for others to follow.
What is another word for trailblazer?
Other words for "trailblazer" include pioneer, innovator, pathfinder, groundbreaker, forerunner, scout.