ingenious

[ in-jeen-yuhs ]

adjective

1. characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction:

   an ingenious machine.

2. cleverly inventive or resourceful:

   an ingenious press agent.

   Synonyms: adroit, resourceful, able, gifted, bright

   Antonyms: unskillful, maladroit, inept

3. Obsolete.
   1. intelligent; showing genius.
   2. ingenuous.

ingenious

/ -nɪəs; ɪnˈdʒiːnjəs /

adjective

1. possessing or done with ingenuity; skilful or clever
2. obsolete.
   having great intelligence; displaying genius

Confusables Note

Ingenious and ingenuous arose from the same Latin root meaning “to beget, give birth” and once had the same meaning. They are now distinct from each other and are not synonyms. Ingenious means “characterized by cleverness” or “cleverly inventive,” as in contriving new explanations or methods: an ingenious device; ingenious designers. Both ingenious and ingenuous originally meant “of honorable or free birth, noble in character; open, frank, candid,” senses that exist in Latin. Since the second half of the 17th century, ingenuous has acquired the additional sense “naively open, innocently frank”: an ingenuous and sincere statement; a thug with the ingenuous eyes of a choirboy.

Derived Forms

• inˈgeniously, adverb
• inˈgeniousness, noun

Other Words From

• in·genious·ly adverb
• in·genious·ness noun
• half-in·genious adjective
• half-in·genious·ly adverb
• half-in·genious·ness noun
• over·in·genious adjective
• over·in·genious·ly adverb
• over·in·genious·ness noun
• super·in·genious adjective
• super·in·genious·ly adverb
• super·in·genious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingenious¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Old French ingenïos, from Latin ingeniōsus, engeignos “clever, talented, gifted,” equivalent to ingeni(um) “natural disposition, temperament, mood; natural ability, cleverness” + -ōsus adjective suffix; in- ²( def ), genitor ( def ); -ium, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingenious¹

C15: from Latin ingeniōsus, from ingenium natural ability; see engine

Example Sentences

Projects like this offer smart, sometimes ingenious ideas about how we can and should live in buildings and cities.

From The Daily Beast

In ways large and small, devious and immature, ingenious and inspiring, she struggled to escape.

From The Daily Beast

Mimicry is an ingenious survival technique, albeit one that is of little use against bulldozers and chainsaws.

From The Daily Beast

We came up with an ingenious plan that would light a fire in the belly of the digital revolution.

From The Daily Beast

They have talent and Lennon/McCartney are the most inventive, wide-ranging and melodically ingenious writers pop has produced.

From The Daily Beast

Just try it once, and you'll see how ingenious it is—only one must be careful not to throw out the elbow in turning out the wrist.

From Project Gutenberg

He uses the red pipe-stone and other materials in the production of his pipes, which are ingenious specimens of sculpture.

From Project Gutenberg

Metal buttons or pistons located on the toe piece of the pedal-board were introduced by the ingenious Casavant of Canada.

From Project Gutenberg

From these ingenious "conceits" we turn to a few thoughts on the present condition and history of the plant.

From Project Gutenberg

The pipes are alternated and in this ingenious way sympathy is largely avoided.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• creative
• imaginative
• innovative
• intelligent
• inventive
• resourceful
• shrewd
• skillful
• sly
• subtle