imagination

[ih-maj-uh-ney-shuhn]

noun

1. the faculty of imagining, or of forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses.

2. the action or process of forming such images or concepts.

3. the faculty of producing ideal creations consistent with reality, as in literature, as distinct from the power of creating illustrative or decorative imagery.

4. the product of imagining a conception or mental creation, often a baseless or fanciful one.

5. ability to face and resolve difficulties; resourcefulness.

   a job that requires imagination.

   Synonyms: thought, enterprise, ingenuity

6. Psychology.,  the power of reproducing images stored in the memory under the suggestion of associated images reproductive imagination or of recombining former experiences in the creation of new images directed at a specific goal or aiding in the solution of problems creative imagination.

7. (in Kantian epistemology) synthesis of data from the sensory manifold into objects by means of the categories.

8. Archaic.,  a plan, scheme, or plot.

imagination

/ ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the faculty or action of producing ideas, esp mental images of what is not present or has not been experienced

2. mental creative ability

3. the ability to deal resourcefully with unexpected or unusual problems, circumstances, etc

4. (in romantic literary criticism, esp that of S. T. Coleridge) a creative act of perception that joins passive and active elements in thinking and imposes unity on the poetic material Compare fancy

Other Word Forms

• imaginational adjective
• nonimaginational adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imagination¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, Middle French, from Latin imāginātiōn- (stem of imāginātiō ) “mental image, fancy,” equivalent to imāgināt(us), past participle of the verb imāginārī imagine ( imāgin-, stem of imāgō image + -ātus -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Idioms and Phrases

see figment of one's imagination.

Synonym Study

See fancy.

Example Sentences

America’s cities have long been linked in the popular — i.e. white — imagination with Black and brown crime, and a fear of immigrants.

From Salon

True art isn’t a mere illusion of imagination, but a reflection of the artist’s perspective.

From Los Angeles Times

Eyre also wants his Tempest to capture imaginations: "I hope there'll be some magic about the production which should appeal to every generation".

From BBC

“The real strength is this combination of virtual reality, some live action and animation. When it’s done well, it stretches the imagination and tickles the funny bone.”

From Los Angeles Times

At the time, the threat from Hamilton was so distant as to be almost a figment of the imagination.

From BBC

Related Words

• artistry 
• awareness 
• fancy 
• fantasy 
• idea 
• image 
• imagery 
• ingenuity 
• insight 
• inspiration 
• intelligence 
• inventiveness www.thesaurus.com
• originality 
• resourcefulness www.thesaurus.com
• thought 
• vision 
• wit