pioneering Definition

pioneer
noun

1. An explorer of, or settler in, hitherto unknown or wild country.

Thesaurus: colonist, settler, founder, frontiersman, frontierswoman, explorer.
2. Someone who breaks new ground in anything; an innovator or initiator.

Thesaurus: trailblazer, innovator, leader.
3. bot.
A plant or species that is characteristically among the first to establish itself on bared ground. Also as adj.

verb pioneered, pioneering

intr
1. To be a pioneer; to be innovative.
2. To explore and open up (a route, etc).

Thesaurus: colonize, settle, establish, found, discover, explore.
3. To try out, originate or develop (a new technique, etc).

Thesaurus: create, develop, originate, launch, initiate, institute, start.

Etymology: 16c: from French peonier, from Latin pedo foot soldier.