imaginative

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

Synonyms of imaginative

• inventive
• creative
• innovative
• talented
• innovational

Examples of imaginative in a Sentence

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

The restaurant's menu is quite imaginative.

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers who studied milk from cockroaches and analyzed soil health using underwear received Ig Nobel prizes celebrating unusual and imaginative contributions to science. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

One of the most imaginative wrinkles in the staging is one the average viewer might not even be noticing, or at least thinking much about. — Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026

Bat is entranced by the instruction manual written in many languages, while Snake finds endless imaginative uses for the box itself. — Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026

Still, for every resourceful, imaginative low-budget success, there is a bungled movie that aspires, if not to quality, then at least to financial viability, but instead achieves legendary ineptitude. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

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