Innovation
Etymology
From Latin "innovare" (to renew, alter), from "in-" (into) and "novus" (new). The original sense leaned toward renewal — making something new again — and for centuries "innovation" was a term of suspicion, an accusation of dangerous meddling with settled ways.
noun · /in-uh-VAY-shun/
The introduction of a new method, idea, or product into actual use.
What it names
The crossing from idea to adoption — the step where novelty actually changes how things are done — not the flash of invention alone.
Example
The real innovation was not the engine itself but the assembly line that finally made it cheap enough to sell.
Related idea
Invention is the creation of something new; innovation is putting it to work at scale so it actually matters — many inventions never become innovations because no one adopts them.