inventive

[ in-ven-tiv ]
See synonyms for: inventiveinventiveness on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. being the product of imagination, resourcefulness, etc.; creative and original: It’s an enthralling, inventive, and wholly unique exhibit from an artist without peer.

  2. relating to or used for inventing: These recordings captured the musician at the height of her inventive power.

Origin of inventive

1
First recorded in 1400–50; invent + -ive; replacing late Middle English inventif, from Old French

Other words from inventive

  • in·ven·tive·ly, adverb
  • in·ven·tive·ness, noun
  • pre·in·ven·tive, adjective
  • un·in·ven·tive, adjective
  • un·in·ven·tive·ly, adverb

Words Nearby inventive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use inventive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inventive

inventive

/ (ɪnˈvɛntɪv) /


adjective
  1. skilled or quick at contriving; ingenious; resourceful

  2. characterized by inventive skill: an inventive programme of work

  1. of or relating to invention

Derived forms of inventive

  • inventively, adverb
  • inventiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012