Pathfinder Meaning
/ˈpɑːθfaɪndə/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounOne who discovers or makes a new path or way through an untraversed region.
nounOne who is the first to do something in a particular field; an innovator, a pioneer.
Sentence Examples
Innovation is the difference between a pathfinder and a path follower.
The pathfinder sent by the soldiers is not persistent enough.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ led the group safely through the unknown mountains.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ led the expedition through the dense jungle, using only a compass and hand-drawn map.
Word Origin & History
From path + finder.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The cow is the true pathfinder and pathmaker."
— 1910, John Burroughs, “Phases of Farm Life”, in In the Catskills, page 67:
"Sorry and frightened, this man was their pathfinder across fields."
— 1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 42:
"Pathfinders are trained to improve the viability of potential planets, initiate first contact with unknown species, find suitable outpost sites, and handle any external threats before the first colonist touches soil. The presence of a Pathfinder is a reassurance that a planet can be settled safely and with a high expectation of success."
— 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Role of a Pathfinder Codex entry:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ led the group safely through the unknown mountains.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ led the expedition through the dense jungle, using only a compass and hand-drawn map.