inventive

[in-ven-tiv]

adjective

1. apt at inventing or thinking up new machines or devices, methods, solutions, etc., or at improvising from what is at hand; innovative or ingenious.

   Luckily the bike mechanic is a most inventive person—you’ll be surprised at what he can do with a piece of wire and some scrap metal.

2. apt at creating with the imagination.

   The delightful and tirelessly inventive storyteller is back with an animated stop-motion adventure.

3. being the product of imagination, resourcefulness, etc.; creative and original.

   It’s an enthralling, inventive, and wholly unique exhibit from an artist without peer.

4. relating to or used for inventing.

   These recordings captured the musician at the height of her inventive power.

inventive

/ ɪnˈvɛntɪv /

adjective

1. skilled or quick at contriving; ingenious; resourceful

2. characterized by inventive skill

   an inventive programme of work

3. of or relating to invention

Other Word Forms

• inventively adverb
• inventiveness noun
• preinventive adjective
• uninventive adjective
• uninventively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inventive¹

First recorded in 1400–50; invent + -ive; replacing late Middle English inventif, from Old French

Example Sentences

Its magnificent display of potted ferns was famous throughout Europe, as was its mouthwatering and inventive cuisine, courtesy of the legendary Chef Philippe, a true master of the cutting board.

Read more on Literature

Located doors down from Fred Segal, the store sold fashion, rather than costumes, though of course still at inventive levels and for those who could afford it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Here, in effect, stood American corporations incarnate: massive, spectacular, inventive, prosperous, self-confident.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Chef Iñaki Andradas cooks like a man born too late to fight bulls but too inventive not to try something just as daring.

Read more on Salon

He faces competition from fellow rap maverick Tyler, The Creator with his wildly inventive Chromakopia; and reunited hip-hop duo Clipse, whose Let God Sort Em Out is their first release since 2009.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• gifted 
• imaginative 
• ingenious 
• innovative 
• original 
• resourceful