imaginative
Americanadjective
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characterized by or bearing evidence of imagination.
an imaginative tale.
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of, relating to, or concerned with imagination.
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given to imagining, as persons.
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having exceptional powers of imagination.
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lacking truth; fanciful.
adjective
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produced by or indicative of a vivid or creative imagination
an imaginative story
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having a vivid imagination
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of imaginative
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin imāginātīvus imaginary, imaginative, equivalent to Latin imāgināt ( us ) imagined ( see imagination) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English imaginatif < Middle French < Medieval Latin, as above
Explanation
To be imaginative is to be inventive and original. If you enjoy coming up with stories, writing songs, or just thinking about things in new ways, you’re an imaginative person. Great painters, musicians, and writers are imaginative. However, being imaginative isn’t just limited to the arts. When you're imaginative, you can develop a unique solution to a problem or issue. For example, an imaginative engineer might develop a new, more efficient way to construct a bridge. An idea or object that’s fresh and original — like that bridge the engineer designed — can also be described as imaginative.
Vocabulary lists containing imaginative
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Literary Terms, Part I
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Writing - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If you keep hearing that your organization seeks “quick, agile, imaginative, technically proficient” staffers, that’s a potential red flag.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World at One on Monday, actress Juliet Stevenson praised Pike's actions, underlining how actors and audiences share a mutual "responsibility" in maintaining the "illusion" of an "imaginative world".
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
And, on any given night, he didn’t hesitate to expand an improvisation to startling lengths, finding new ideas well beyond the imaginative limits of most jazz players.
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
Their low cost of entry and imaginative wagering options attract many who might not consider more conventional investing platforms.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
In spite of his youth, he proved to be an imaginative and effective businessman.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
