trendsetter

noun

trend·​set·​ter ˈtren(d)-ˌse-tər How to pronounce trendsetter (audio)
variants or less commonly trend-setter
plural trendsetters also trend-setters
Synonyms of trendsetternext
: one that sets a trend : someone or something that starts or helps to popularize a new fashion, style, movement, etc.
a trendsetter in the fashion industry
Every ten years or so, for a different set of reasons each time, cultural trendsetters rally behind one musician with whom they sense a bond and who then comes to symbolize jazz to the mass media.Francis Davis
The county has become a trendsetter in other types of environmental legislation …Chemical & Engineering News

Examples of trendsetter in a Sentence

a closely watched trendsetter in women's fashions
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fortunately, the styles and silhouettes that were popular in the early 2000s (the era trendsetters are favoring) are particularly well-suited for travel thanks to their breathability and versatile nature. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026 Probably one of the most ingrained is wearing pastels during the spring and summer months, with trendsetters and designers rallying around one specific shade for the past sever seasons. Lucía Tejo, Glamour, 26 Apr. 2026 There is also the possibility that Spirit Airlines, a trendsetter in ultra-low fares, could fold under the weight of higher fuel costs. Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026 In 2015, the Jenner sisters proved to be the ultimate trendsetters in ensembles (and one bright blue wig) that had the internet buzzing. Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trendsetter

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trendsetter was in 1936

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Cite this Entry

“Trendsetter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trendsetter. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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