imagineer

American  

[ih-maj-uh-neer] / ɪˌmædʒ əˈnɪər /

noun

1. a person who is skilled in implementing creative ideas into practical form.

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Etymology

Origin of imagineer

First recorded in 1940–45; imagin(e) + (engin)eer ( def. )

Explanation

An imagineer is someone who takes an original, visionary idea and uses it to build something real. The people who came up with the concept of Disneyland and turned it into a theme park were imagineers. These days, the term imagineer is strongly associated with the Walt Disney Company, which uses it to describe employees whose jobs involve dreaming up and designing theme parks, entertainment on cruises, and other Disney attractions. But it was the aluminum company Alcoa that coined this word in the 1940s as a portmanteau of imagination and engineer. Imagineer is a great job title for anyone who combines their creativity with real-world engineering skills.

Example Sentences

And in fact, that’s where Sophia’s creator Hanson honed his skills, spending years working as a Walt Disney imagineer making “characters and props.”

From The Verge • Oct. 30, 2017

Martin “Marty” Sklar, the pioneering Walt Disney Co. imagineer who played an instrumental role in the design of Disney theme parks, has died, the company announced Thursday night.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 28, 2017

While others described Lawson as a gadgeteer with a penchant for engineering, Tremulis told Special Interest Auto, “I’ve always considered him an imagineer - the best of all worlds.”

From Washington Times • Sep. 24, 2016

He might as well have been conjured by a Disney imagineer.

From Salon • Oct. 1, 2015

Though she did not know Ralph had become an imagineer, she sensed it — sensed that if it weren’t for her and Theresa, he might not have come back from that long night with Grover.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen