Meaning 1
A new method, product, or practice that creates useful improvement.
Reach for it when naming applied novelty whose benefit can be explained
The low-cost valve was a valuable innovation in village water systems.
Meaning 2
The work of developing and applying useful new approaches.
Reach for it when discussing an organization's continuing ability to create change
The fund supports innovation in materials that can be repaired locally.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| everyday | ||
| warm | ||
| professional |
|
|
| formal |
everyday
Fits when the newly created object or method itself is central
Careful An invention is not necessarily adopted or useful enough to count as innovation.
warm
Fits when a major advance crosses a stubborn limit
Careful Breakthrough overstates a modest but valuable innovation.
professional
Fits when measurable progress within a field is the claim
Careful An advance may refine an existing method without introducing anything new.
formal
Fits when newness itself is under discussion
Careful Novelty can be trivial and does not establish useful improvement.
everyday
Fits when the human generation of original ideas is being praised
Careful Creativity need not move ideas into practical use.
warm
Fits when fresh life in an institution or tradition is the outcome
Careful Renewal may restore old strengths rather than create new practice.
professional
experimentation
Fits when systematic testing of new possibilities is the activity
Careful Experimentation can produce no adopted innovation.
formal
Fits when systems are being brought to current standards
Careful Modernization can follow known solutions and lacks innovation's originality.
technological innovation
Technological innovation made the hearing aid smaller and easier to repair.
culture of innovation
A culture of innovation depends on candid discussion of failed trials.
social innovation
The cooperative childcare model became a social innovation copied across the region.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
Your browser isn't saving lists, so this one will be cleared when you leave the page.