imaginative

[ih-maj-uh-nuh-tiv, -ney-tiv]

adjective

1. characterized by or bearing evidence of imagination.

   an imaginative tale.

   Synonyms: ingenious, clever, inventive, creative

2. of, relating to, or concerned with imagination.

3. given to imagining, as persons.

4. having exceptional powers of imagination.

5. lacking truth; fanciful.

imaginative

/ ɪˈmædʒɪnətɪv /

adjective

1. produced by or indicative of a vivid or creative imagination

   an imaginative story

2. having a vivid imagination

Other Word Forms

• imaginatively adverb
• imaginativeness noun
• overimaginative adjective
• overimaginatively adverb
• overimaginativeness noun
• unimaginative adjective
• unimaginatively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of imaginative¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin imāginātīvus imaginary, imaginative, equivalent to Latin imāgināt ( us ) imagined ( imagination ) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English imaginatif < Middle French < Medieval Latin, as above

Example Sentences

Bok, a mystically inclined author as well as artist, combined hallucinatory forms with imaginative fidelity to the texts he illustrated.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In its early days, the program’s website stated that it had been founded “by Harvard University President Lawrence H. Summers following an imaginative proposal” by Epstein and an academic.

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The Postal Tyger uniforms were included, as were some other imaginative outfits.

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Through the least imaginative means possible, it does so.

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The program consisted of five short finales and looked, on paper, as the least imaginative gala in at least the last three decades.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• artistic 
• extravagant 
• fanciful 
• fantastic 
• ingenious 
• offbeat 
• original 
• romantic 
• visionary 
• vivid 
• whimsical