0 someone who is one of the first people to start using a new product, especially a new piece of technology :
1 a person who buys a new type of product or service as soon as it is available:
Jackson was an early adopter of the independent distribution model, eliminating its captive agency sales force in 1970 to sell products through independent agents.
Epson was an early adopter of this product.
Warhol was an early adopter of the silk screen printmaking process as a technique for making paintings.
Comper was an early adopter of retractable undercarriages for light aircraft at a time when the balance of advantage between drag loss and weight penalty was not obvious.
Because the technology was in an early stage (innovation/early adopter phase), the decision was made to start with a clinical pilot study.
It seems a more constant doctor characteristic to be a late adopter than being an early adopter (20).
He was an early adopter of irradiation as a cancer treatment.
The trend of new technology costing more at release is often referred to as the early adopter tax.
