cre·a·tive
krē-ˈā-tiv 
ˈkrē-ˌā-
1
2
: having the quality of something created rather than imitated : imaginative
the creative arts
creative writing
3
: managed so as to get around legal or conventional limits
creative financing
also
: deceptively arranged so as to conceal or defraud
creative accounting
creatively
adverb
creativeness
noun
1
: one who is creative
especially
: one involved in the creation of advertisements
2
: creative activity or the material produced by it especially in advertising
Examples of creative in a Sentence
Adjective
She's a very creative person.
She has one of the most creative minds in the business.
They've come up with some creative new ways to make money.
a creative solution to a difficult problem
He teaches creative writing at the university.
the first step in the creative process
It turns out that the company's report of record profits last year was due to some creative accounting.
Recent Examples on the Web
Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The cover stars, whose issue is on stands now, divulged their creative passions (stand-up comedy for the cookbook author and acting for the high school sophomore) and how the mother-daughter-duo are helping each other succeed.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Sergii Denysenko, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
This message resonates with athletes, professionals, and creatives who seek a sustainable energy source that fits a modern lifestyle.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for creative
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
When Peacock debuts all 10 episodes of The Paper’s first season on Thursday, both the format as well as the creative DNA should feel instantly familiar to Office fans.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The cover stars, whose issue is on stands now, divulged their creative passions (stand-up comedy for the cookbook author and acting for the high school sophomore) and how the mother-daughter-duo are helping each other succeed.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
When the fatigue threshold is hit, a generative AI model can automatically suggest a range of alternative creatives, using insights from predictive models to determine which assets are most likely to grab attention.
—Sergii Denysenko, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
This message resonates with athletes, professionals, and creatives who seek a sustainable energy source that fits a modern lifestyle.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for creative
Cite this Entry
“Creative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creative. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share