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
Synonyms
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Kelly Martinez, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2023
The movies have large ensembles, but most of the people in them exist to support John’s story, where The Continental creative team tries to turn almost everyone into a protagonist with their own complicated motivations and backstories.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2023
Among the panel discussions, participants will include writers, directors and creative talent such as Giancarlo Nasi, Emily Morgan, Mahalia Belo, Shaheen Baig, Leah Clarke, Naqqash Khalid, Nabhaan Rizwan, Mary Burke and Tasha Back.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Sep. 2023
Her creative prowess knows no bounds and her career is proof of that.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 20 Sep. 2023
The class-action lawsuit joins other legal actions, organizations and individuals raising alarms over how OpenAI and other generative AI systems are impacting creative works.
—Jennifer Korn, CNN, 20 Sep. 2023
This trend offers the most creative way to display your plants (and play chess).
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2023
Bectu, the British union for workers in behind-the-scenes roles in creative industries, surveyed nearly 4,000 of its film and TV members and 80 percent said their jobs had been affected, with three-quarters not working.
—Eshe Nelson, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023
Higher levels of adaptability in the workplace are associated with better performance, confidence, and creative output.
—Jacqueline Brassey, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2023
Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Sep. 2023
Other events include Fresh Content China, a session presented by the China Pavilion, featuring both the country’s latest output alongside creatives from the China TV industry who will share learnings from its evolution domestically and internationally.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 12 Sep. 2023
The event—which counted The Walt Disney Company, LVMH, and AT&T, among others, as sponsors—tied into the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and aimed to celebrate the Black creatives who are shaping the current fashion landscape with their unique work.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2023
For the second set of photos, the couple is dressed in white regal ensembles with capes from the same creatives.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 28 Aug. 2023
Now in its fourth season, Noir Fashion Week was founded to provide BIPOC creatives and brands the opportunities to showcase their work and nurture young talent.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 1 Sep. 2023
Conglomerates began trading networks and cable channels, opening chasms between creatives and executives.
—Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2023
Other activations planned by Cartier — which began sponsoring the festival two years ago — include a series of conversations and master classes with Oscar-winning creatives.
—Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2023
Contributor The Artist’s Way is a renowned book released in the early 90s to help creatives fully unlock their skills to bring their dreams to life.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023
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Adjective
The actresses have continued to work together in recent years on the Great American Family network, for which the Bure serves as chief creative officer.
—Kelly Martinez, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2023
The movies have large ensembles, but most of the people in them exist to support John’s story, where The Continental creative team tries to turn almost everyone into a protagonist with their own complicated motivations and backstories.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2023
Among the panel discussions, participants will include writers, directors and creative talent such as Giancarlo Nasi, Emily Morgan, Mahalia Belo, Shaheen Baig, Leah Clarke, Naqqash Khalid, Nabhaan Rizwan, Mary Burke and Tasha Back.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Sep. 2023
Her creative prowess knows no bounds and her career is proof of that.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 20 Sep. 2023
The class-action lawsuit joins other legal actions, organizations and individuals raising alarms over how OpenAI and other generative AI systems are impacting creative works.
—Jennifer Korn, CNN, 20 Sep. 2023
This trend offers the most creative way to display your plants (and play chess).
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2023
Bectu, the British union for workers in behind-the-scenes roles in creative industries, surveyed nearly 4,000 of its film and TV members and 80 percent said their jobs had been affected, with three-quarters not working.
—Eshe Nelson, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023
Higher levels of adaptability in the workplace are associated with better performance, confidence, and creative output.
—Jacqueline Brassey, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2023
Noun
The Morning Show has already been renewed for a fourth season, but amid the ongoing dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the show’s creatives have not yet begun plotting out plans for next season.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Sep. 2023
Other events include Fresh Content China, a session presented by the China Pavilion, featuring both the country’s latest output alongside creatives from the China TV industry who will share learnings from its evolution domestically and internationally.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 12 Sep. 2023
The event—which counted The Walt Disney Company, LVMH, and AT&T, among others, as sponsors—tied into the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and aimed to celebrate the Black creatives who are shaping the current fashion landscape with their unique work.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2023
For the second set of photos, the couple is dressed in white regal ensembles with capes from the same creatives.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 28 Aug. 2023
Now in its fourth season, Noir Fashion Week was founded to provide BIPOC creatives and brands the opportunities to showcase their work and nurture young talent.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 1 Sep. 2023
Conglomerates began trading networks and cable channels, opening chasms between creatives and executives.
—Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2023
Other activations planned by Cartier — which began sponsoring the festival two years ago — include a series of conversations and master classes with Oscar-winning creatives.
—Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2023
Contributor The Artist’s Way is a renowned book released in the early 90s to help creatives fully unlock their skills to bring their dreams to life.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'creative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
borrowed from Medieval Latin creātīvus, from Latin creātus, past participle of creāre "to beget, give birth to, create entry 1" + -īvus -ive
Noun
derivative of creative entry 1
Phrases Containing creative
Articles Related to creative
Dictionary Entries Near creative
Cite this Entry
“Creative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creative. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
creative
adjective
cre·ative
krē-ˈāt-iv
1
: able to create especially new and original things
2
: showing or requiring imagination
creative writing
creatively
adverb
creativeness
noun
creativity
noun
ˌkrē-ā-ˈtiv-ət-ē
ˌkrē-ə-
More from Merriam-Webster on creative
Nglish: Translation of creative for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of creative for Arabic Speakers
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