ingenuity
Americannoun
plural
ingenuities-
the quality of being cleverly inventive or resourceful; inventiveness.
a designer of great ingenuity.
-
cleverness or skillfulness of conception or design.
a device of great ingenuity.
-
an ingenious contrivance or device.
-
Obsolete. ingenuousness.
noun
-
inventive talent; cleverness
-
an ingenious device, act, etc
-
archaic frankness; candour
Other Word Forms
- hyperingenuity noun
- superingenuity noun
Etymology
Origin of ingenuity
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin ingenuitās “innate virtue, etc.” ( see ingenuous, -ity); current senses by association with ingenious
Explanation
Ingenuity is the ability to think creatively about a situation or to solve problems in a clever way. If you want to build a boat out of toothpicks and yarn, you’ll need a lot of ingenuity. The Latin word for “mind, intellect” is a root of ingenuity, and it takes a bright and fast-thinking intellect to use ingenuity in a situation. Athletes show ingenuity all the time, finding exciting ways to outwit their opponents and to achieve victory. Master criminals rely on their ingenuity in order to evade the law when they are chased. Ingenuity is all about imagination, and an imaginative mind knows that every obstacle can be overcome with a little ingenuity.
Vocabulary lists containing ingenuity
The Diary of a Young Girl
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!
The Glass Castle
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!
George H.W. Bush (1924 -2018) Tribute List
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.
The more client-facing your role and the more it relies on ingenuity, the more likely you will be to avoid an AI-related restructuring.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026
No amount of ingenuity can substitute for fuel that doesn’t arrive, machinery that can’t be repaired or markets that can’t be reached.
From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026
He has repeatedly promised Israelis he is using their undoubted power and ingenuity to reshape the Middle East in a way that will strengthen their country.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
Small-market teams in baseball have shown that with enough ingenuity, they can hang with anyone.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
The program began, with the current mayor telling a very long and very boring story about her grandmother’s bravery and ingenuity.
From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson
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.
