imaginative

[ ih-maj-uh-nuh-tiv, -ney-tiv ]

adjective

1. characterized by or bearing evidence of imagination:

   an imaginative tale.

   Synonyms: ingenious, clever, inventive, creative

2. of, relating to, or concerned with imagination.
3. given to imagining, as persons.
4. having exceptional powers of imagination.
5. lacking truth; fanciful.

imaginative

/ ɪˈmædʒɪnətɪv /

adjective

1. produced by or indicative of a vivid or creative imagination

   an imaginative story

2. having a vivid imagination

Derived Forms

• imˈaginatively, adverb
• imˈaginativeness, noun

Other Words From

• i·magi·na·tive·ly adverb
• i·magi·na·tive·ness noun
• over·im·agi·na·tive adjective
• over·im·agi·na·tive·ly adverb
• over·im·agi·na·tive·ness noun
• unim·agi·na·tive adjective
• unim·agi·na·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of imaginative¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin imāginātīvus imaginary, imaginative, equivalent to Latin imāgināt ( us ) imagined ( imagination ) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English imaginatif < Middle French < Medieval Latin, as above

Example Sentences

While there, court records say, he developed the idea Judge Liam O’Grady described as “so creative, so imaginative that it had great power and as a result caused such danger to our country.”

From Washington Post

Some think the sightings are just imaginative people getting glimpses of giant sturgeon, but we want to believe.

From Ozy

Ruthie’s life isn’t cushy, and it’s made all the more difficult by quite a few men as she grows up, but her worldview is fierce and imaginative.

From Outside Online

What we saw doesn't quite match up to a full-fledged Mario Kart game, but it looks like it could add a lot of creativity and imaginative play opportunities to the standard RC car experience.

From Ars Technica

This is especially true for inquisitive, imaginative, and lovable nerds.

From Popular-Science

They were getting more imaginative,” a pawn shop owner thinks of his addict customers in “Back of Beyond.

From The Daily Beast

I also had great optimism that Guillermo would be able to realize these creatures in a unique and imaginative way.

From The Daily Beast

The food here also is delicious and imaginative, but the ambience is 180-degrees different.

From The Daily Beast

Pretending and imaginative play also flourish, and imaginary friends are common companions to young schoolchildren.

From The Daily Beast

Unless Jane becomes more unhinged in coming episodes, she was just an imaginative kid being a kid.

From The Daily Beast

Some of them, more imaginative, declared that Mrs. Charmington was even a sleeping partner in the saponaceous firm.

From Project Gutenberg

A less imaginative man than Aristide would have immediately acquainted the police with his discovery.

From Project Gutenberg

The brilliant imaginative mind has woven it into romance, making its colors brighter still with the sunlight of inspired phantasy.

From Project Gutenberg

The idea of the silence and solitude of the cloister inspired the highly-imaginative girl with a blaze of enthusiasm.

From Project Gutenberg

Darling, don't you see—it's because you aren't a clod, because you're sensitive and imaginative that you experience fear.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• artistic
• extravagant
• fanciful
• fantastic
• ingenious
• offbeat
• original
• romantic
• visionary
• vivid
• whimsical