ingenuity

noun

in·​ge·​nu·​i·​ty ˌin-jə-ˈnü-ə-tē 

-ˈnyü-

plural ingenuities

1

a

: skill or cleverness in devising or combining : inventiveness

b

: cleverness or aptness of design or contrivance

2

: an ingenious device or contrivance

3

obsolete : candor, ingenuousness

Synonyms

• cleverness
• creativeness
• creativity
• imagination
• imaginativeness
• ingeniousness
• innovativeness
• invention
• inventiveness
• originality

Examples of ingenuity in a Sentence

She showed amazing ingenuity in finding ways to cut costs.

It will take considerable ingenuity to fix these problems.

Recent Examples on the Web

This Week This focus on learning also involves recognizing AI as a complement to human ingenuity rather than a replacement for it. —William Arruda, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

And, in one of the picture’s smartest strokes of ingenuity, Ben gets caught using the ID of a dead guy by a burly bouncer (Darius ‘Nastyelgic’ Jackson) who happened to be a pallbearer at the funeral for its original owner. —Courtney Howard, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024

That kind of ingenuity keeps these buds at the forefront even years after launch, and Apple's not done yet. —Parker Hall, WIRED, 2 Dec. 2024

With a little ingenuity, this can be the one and only dress you pack. —Kristine Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1592, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

ingenuity

noun

in·​ge·​nu·​ity

ˌin-jə-ˈn(y)ü-ət-ē

plural ingenuities

1

: skill or cleverness in discovering, inventing, or planning

2

: an ingenious device