imaginative

1 of 2

adjective

imag·​i·​na·​tive i-ˈma-jə-nə-tiv 

i-ˈmaj-nə-tiv;

-ˈma-jə-ˌnā-

1

a

: of, relating to, or characterized by imagination

an imaginative story

b

: tending to provoke, excite, or enliven the imagination

made some imaginative comments

c

: able to handle new or difficult problems : resourceful

a young and imaginative new leader

d

: full of freshness, originality, or vividness

imaginative designs

an imaginative menu

2

: given to imagining : having a lively imagination

a child's imaginative life

an imaginative filmmaker

3

: of or relating to images

especially : showing a command of imagery

imaginative wording

4

: devoid of truth : false

Reports of the incident were wholly imaginative.

imaginatively adverb

imaginativeness noun

imaginativeness

2 of 2

noun

imag·​i·​na·​tive·​ness

|ivnə̇s, 

|ēv- also |əv-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being imaginative

Synonyms of imaginative

Adjective

• inventive
• creative
• innovative
• talented
• innovational

Examples of imaginative in a Sentence

Adjective

She wrote an imaginative story about life on the planet Venus.

The restaurant's menu is quite imaginative.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Designed for ages 3 to 12, the shiny indoor space is cleverly set up into various imaginative zones, from a plush mediaeval princess castle to a play gym with climbing wall. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026

Christian readers have long seen the series as an imaginative retelling of events from the Gospels, intended for children but offering much to adult readers as well. — The Conversation, 6 Nov. 2026

But rather than spread panic, the fake messages appear to have had little impact on war-weary civilians – and instead began to generate some imaginative memes. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026

Icke uses his formidable talent for imaginative, dynamic, multimedia staging to manifest the act of surveillance — inherently secretive, out of sight — into something extremely tangible. — Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English ymaginatif "employing mental images, curious, inventive," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, "of the imagination, having a strong imagination, shrewd," borrowed from Medieval Latin imāginātīvus "of the imagination," from Latin imāginātus, past participle of imāginārī "to imagine" + -īvus -ive

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

imaginative

adjective

imag·​i·​na·​tive im-ˈaj-(ə-)nət-iv 

-ˈaj-ə-ˌnāt-

1

: of, relating to, or showing imagination

2

: having a lively imagination

imaginatively adverb

imaginativeness noun