ingenuity

[in-juh-noo-i-tee, -nyoo-]

noun

plural

ingenuities 

1. the quality of being cleverly inventive or resourceful; inventiveness.

   a designer of great ingenuity.

2. cleverness or skillfulness of conception or design.

   a device of great ingenuity.

3. an ingenious contrivance or device.

4. Obsolete.,  ingenuousness.

ingenuity

/ ˌɪndʒɪˈnjuːɪtɪ /

noun

1. inventive talent; cleverness

2. an ingenious device, act, etc

3. archaic,  frankness; candour

Other Word Forms

• hyperingenuity noun
• superingenuity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingenuity¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin ingenuitās “innate virtue, etc.” ( ingenuous, -ity ); current senses by association with ingenious

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingenuity¹

C16: from Latin ingenuitās a freeborn condition, outlook consistent with such a condition, from ingenuus native, freeborn (see _ingenuous ); meaning influenced by _ingenious

Example Sentences

Few contemporary novelists have shown as much ingenuity in scouting the unknown as Adam Johnson.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, much of Japan’s entrenched bureaucracy will fight change with all the resources and ingenuity at its command.

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"Private sector enterprise and ingenuity and innovation thrives best when it's kept at a certain sort of arm's length from politics and politicians," he added.

Read more on BBC

“They’re real kids who use their ingenuity and smarts for the good of the community.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But hearing these all-timers stacked up in rapid succession was a thrill of its own — a reminder of the blend of efficiency and ingenuity attained on a daily basis at Hitsville, U.S.A.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ability 
• brilliance 
• dexterity 
• flair 
• genius 
• gumption 
• intelligence 
• inventiveness www.thesaurus.com
• resourcefulness www.thesaurus.com
• shrewdness 
• skill 
• talent 
• wisdom 
• wit