Definition

Noun: 1. A horse used to set the pace in a race: An animal, typically in horse racing, whose role is to establish a specific speed for the other competitors to follow, often to tire out the main contenders. 2. A leading instance or example in its field; a trendsetter: A person, group, organization, or thing that establishes a new standard or trend that others then follow or try to match.

Examples

• Noun (Horse racing):
  • The trainer entered a fast but less-enduring horse as the pacesetter to force a quick early pace.
  • The pacesetter led for the first mile before fading in the final stretch.
• Noun (Trendsetter):
  • The company has long been a pacesetter in sustainable technology.
  • Her innovative designs made her a pacesetter for the entire fashion industry.
  • The new policy will be a pacesetter in community relations.

Advanced Usage

• "To act as a pacesetter": To take on the role of establishing a standard or speed for others.
  • The research department acts as a pacesetter for the company's innovation goals.
• "Pacesetting" (adjective): Describing something that sets a leading standard.
  • The team's pacesetting performance broke several records.

Variants and Related Words

• Pacemaker (noun): This is a very close synonym, especially in the context of setting a speed in racing or a trend. (Note: In medicine, "pacemaker" has a distinct, specialized meaning for a heart device).
• Trendsetter (noun): A person or thing that starts a new fashion or trend. This is a more specific synonym for the second meaning.
• Trailblazer (noun): A person who is the first to do something or go somewhere, making it easier for others to follow. This emphasizes innovation and pioneering more than setting a measurable pace.
• Bellwether (noun): Something that leads or indicates a trend. This often implies predicting future trends.

Synonyms

• For the trendsetter meaning: Leader, pioneer, innovator, front-runner, standard-bearer, harbinger.
• For the racing meaning: Front-runner, rabbit (informal, especially in track running).

Antonyms

• Follower: One who follows the lead or example of another.
• Laggard: A person or thing that falls behind others; a straggler.

Noun

1. a horse used to set the pace in racing
2. a leading instance in its field
   • the new policy will be a pacesetter in community relations