creative

adjective cre·a·tive \ krē-ˈā-tiv , ˈkrē-ˌā- \

|Updated on: 20 Jul 2018

Examples: creative in a Sentence

Definition of creative

1 : marked by the ability or power to create : given to creating

the creative impulse

a creative genius

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

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creatively

adverb

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creativeness

noun

See creative defined for English-language learners

See creative defined for kids

Examples of creative in a Sentence

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 of creative from the Web

Klein is an all-American fashion house, but its chief creative officer, Raf Simons, is Belgian.

— Washington Post, "US first lady welcomed in Belgium with music and fashion," 11 July 2018
The fact that the grande dame of British punk is teaming with one of the country’s most iconic heritage brands might seem unlikely at first, but there’s a new guy in charge: chief creative officer Riccardo Tisci.

— steff yotka, Vogue, "Riccardo Tisci Brings Vivienne Westwood to Burberry for a Collaboration," 6 July 2018
Now, fresh on the heels of Glow Job's success, Too Faced cofounder and chief creative officer Jerrod Blandino has hinted that his brand will soon be expanding even further into the realm of skin care.

— andrea park, Allure, "Too Faced Will Reportedly Expand Its Skin-Care Collection Soon," 29 June 2018
When John Lasseter, Pixar’s former chief creative officer, left the esteemed animation studio in early June 2018, the public word on his transgressions were vague.

— patricia hernandez, The Verge, "Former Pixar employee details how the company’s rampant sexism went far beyond John Lasseter," 28 June 2018
That's what Linda Wells, founding editor of Allure and current chief creative officer at Revlon, has always proselytized — and her ethos has turned countless beauty lovers into believers.

— refinery29.com, "We Tried Everything From Flesh Beauty — & Here's Our Unfiltered Opinion," 26 June 2018
New York Times MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Jennifer Lee has been named chief creative officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

— kristen bellstrom, Fortune, "Melania Trump Jacket, Brian Krzanich Intel, Instagram Grandmas: Broadsheet June 22," 22 June 2018
Visitors to the house’s redesigned website will be able to buy and customize pinky rings with monograms, motifs and symbols, said Evan Yurman, the chief creative officer.

— ray a. smith, WSJ, "To Reach Millennials, High-End Jewelers Try New Products—and Approach," 19 June 2018
Pixar Animation director Pete Docter and Walt Disney Animation director Jennifer Lee are set to take on key new leadership roles as chief creative officers at their respective studios, the Walt Disney Company announced Tuesday.

— rebecca keegan, HWD, "Pete Docter and Jennifer Lee Are Taking Over for Disney’s Ousted John Lasseter," 19 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'creative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of creative

see ¹create

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1678

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

creative Synonyms

creative

noun

Definition of creative

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

Recent Examples of creative from the Web

Similar things are happening across the country, but Portland feels particularly unsafe because the city is 76 percent white, said Stephanie Duncker, a black creative who has lived in New York and Florida.

— casey parks, OregonLive.com, "Portland's people of color felt under attack long before MAX stabbings," 3 June 2017
Rocket League creative will air across WWE Network, WWE’s digital and social channels, and on WWE’s flagship TV programs Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live on USA Network.

— posted jim varsallone, miamiherald, "Psyonix, WWE announce Rocket League partnership," 17 May 2017

Origin and Etymology of creative

see ¹create

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1938

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

CREATIVE Defined for English Language Learners

creative

adjective

Definition of creative for English Language Learners

: having or showing an ability to make new things or think of new ideas
: using the ability to make or think of new things : involving the process by which new ideas, stories, etc., are created
: done in an unusual and often dishonest way

CREATIVE Defined for Kids

creative

adjective cre·a·tive \ krē-ˈā-tiv \

Definition of creative for Students

: able to invent or produce new and original things

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creatively

adverb

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creativeness

noun

Word Root of creative

The Latin word creāre, meaning “to produce” or “to cause,” gives us the root cre. Words from the Latin creāre have something to do with producing or causing. To create something is to produce it. Anyone creative is able to produce new and original things. A creature is a being that was alive when it was produced