breakthrough
BRAKE-throo
/ˈbreɪkˌθruː/
A sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development.
Implies overcoming a significant obstacle or achieving a major advancement that fundamentally changes understanding or capability.
The story behind the word. The word 'breakthrough' is a compound noun formed from 'break' and 'through'. It emerged in the early 20th century, initially used in a military context to describe an offensive action that successfully penetrated enemy lines. By the mid-20th century, its meaning broadened to encompass any sudden and significant advance or discovery, especially in science or technology.
Word relationships
- discovery: A breakthrough is a significant discovery, often one that solves a long-standing problem or opens new avenues.
- advancement: Broader term; an advancement can be incremental, while a breakthrough is typically sudden and dramatic.
- milestone: A significant stage or event in the development of something, but doesn't necessarily imply the sudden, dramatic nature of a breakthrough.
- setback: A reversal or check in progress.
- stagnation: Lack of activity, growth, or development.
Commonly confused with
- innovation: An 'innovation' is a new method or idea; a 'breakthrough' is a sudden, important discovery or development, which might lead to many innovations.
Collocations
- major breakthrough
- scientific breakthrough
- technological breakthrough
- breakthrough discovery
Example sentences
- "The development of mRNA vaccines was a major breakthrough in medical science, offering a rapid response to new viral threats." Discussing scientific progress.
- "After weeks of struggling, the student finally had a breakthrough moment, understanding the complex mathematical concept." Referring to a personal achievement.
Memory hook
Imagine a wall of problems that you 'BREAK THROUGH' to find a solution or discovery. BREAKTHROUGH = sudden success.
When not to use
Do not use 'breakthrough' for minor improvements or expected progress; it should denote a significant, often unexpected, leap forward.
Fun facts
- The term gained prominence during World War I to describe military successes.
- Many scientific breakthroughs are the result of years of incremental research, but the 'breakthrough' moment is when a critical piece of the puzzle falls into place.
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