Introduction. The most important condition for scientific research is the presence of a scientific apparatus. In turn, the apparatus itself is based on concepts that have an unambiguous content. Different interpretations of the content of the term cause serious contradictions in research. Therefore, the first task of the researcher is to create a consistent scientific apparatus. This fully applies to the term “innovation”. The range of opinions regarding the essence of the term "innovation" among scientists is very wide. The purpose of the work is to identify the content of the term “innovation”, which has unambiguity and consistency, as the most important properties of the scientific apparatus of any study. Materials and methods. The material includes the works on philosophy, articles on the definition of the concept of “innovation in various spheres of human activity. Research methods: analysis of material, synthesis, deduction method, ascent from the abstract to the concrete. Research results. It was revealed that there are dozens of definitions of the term innovation in the scientific literature. Their different content hinders the consistency of the scientific apparatus of research. A definition is needed that essentially defines this term. For its unambiguous interpretation, it is necessary to bring the term “innovation” closer to the status of “category”. In solving the problem, it is proposed to use the deductive method as the leading one. This allows us to focus on the main, essential properties of innovation as a term. Conclusion. The deductive method allowed us to define innovation as something new, expressed in obtaining a useful result, both in material and in ideal form, the defining property of which is the presence of scientific and creative activity, with the help of which it was obtained.