inventive
Americanadjective
-
apt at inventing or thinking up new machines or devices, methods, solutions, etc., or at improvising from what is at hand; innovative or ingenious.
Luckily the bike mechanic is a most inventive person—you’ll be surprised at what he can do with a piece of wire and some scrap metal.
-
apt at creating with the imagination.
The delightful and tirelessly inventive storyteller is back with an animated stop-motion adventure.
-
being the product of imagination, resourcefulness, etc.; creative and original.
It’s an enthralling, inventive, and wholly unique exhibit from an artist without peer.
-
relating to or used for inventing.
These recordings captured the musician at the height of her inventive power.
adjective
-
skilled or quick at contriving; ingenious; resourceful
-
characterized by inventive skill
an inventive programme of work
-
of or relating to invention
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inventive
First recorded in 1400–50; invent + -ive; replacing late Middle English inventif, from Old French
Explanation
To be inventive is to be creative. Inventive people are good at using their imaginations. If you know that inventors create new things, then it makes sense that the word inventive applies to people and behavior that show creativity. Artists are inventive, especially if their work is different than other people's work. Little kids are very inventive: their imaginations have almost no limits. People who copy others aren't inventive, because they're not being original. When people are being inventive, new ideas are flowing.
Vocabulary lists containing inventive
The Ingenious Lexicon of Invention
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Positive Adjectives to Describe People
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Lions of Little Rock
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
It appears that these inventive students took "soc" from the middle of the word "association" and added "-er," producing "soccer".
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026
Much of the menu is prepared over a live hearth, and traditional Polish dishes sit alongside inventive creations like duck confit cabbage rolls and pork belly pączki.
From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026
So the show, it’s just so inventive and fun in a lot of really terrific ways.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
“Schmigadoon!” wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for nostalgia for a time when musicals were not just more popular but also often fresher and more inventive than they are today.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
The most inventive solution to these questions was the simplest: it dispensed of code altogether.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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.
