innovative

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪnˈnɒ.və.tɪv/, /ˈɪn.ə.və.tɪv/ (UK); /ˈɪn.əˌveɪtɪv/, /ˈɪn.oʊˌveɪtɪv/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English innovate + -ive.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Having the character of innovating: 1608 in the OED and MWU, an isolated use in the sense revolutionary;^[4][5][6] about 1600 in Etymonline.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The word became established from 1796 (1806 in HTOED).^[2][6] In commerce, of a product or company, featuring new methods, is a later application.^[6][7] Innovatively is from 1962 in the OED,^[4] and innovativeness from the mid-20th century.^[3]

Timeline

• 1608 – isolated use.^[4]
• 1796 – in regular use.^[2]
• 1962 – innovatively.^[4]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Introducing or using new methods or ideas; advanced and original.
2. Of a person, original and creative in thinking.

Word family

• innovativeness
• innovatively
• uninnovative

Related words

• innovate
• innovation
• novel
• novice
• renovate

Usage notes

Longman notes the variant innovatory.^[8]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c Kay, Christian; Roberts, Jane; Samuels, Michael; Wotherspoon, Irené, eds. (2009), Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press; online edition (2024)
7. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2009), 5th ed., Harlow: Pearson Longman