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

As the saying goes, necessity often breeds ingenuity. —Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 June 2024

This model relied heavily on finding, funding, and scaling human ingenuity—a costly and often inefficient process. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 4 June 2024

There is, of course, entrepreneurial ingenuity at work. —Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 May 2024

This family is rising in the ranks due to the ingenuity and business savvy of Will–but also due to Alice’s ability to keep him focused. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 15 May 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