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 of ingenuity

• creativity
• creativeness
• imagination
• talent
• innovativeness
• inventiveness
• imaginativeness

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

The dominant New England Patriots teams featuring Brady and coach Bill Belichick owe a debt to Montana and Walsh, whose ingenuity launched a revolution of offensive creativity. —Daniel Brown, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026

But in a messy world, with all those unpredictable X factors, leaders would do better to foster ingenuity, grit, and perseverance. —Claire Zillman, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026

This film is a meticulous and brilliantly crafted example of how a single idea, which unfolds with vision and ingenuity, can expand our way of seeing the world around us. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026

The Imagineering Story highlights the corporate drama, engineering ingenuity, and, most importantly, creative collaboration that shaped the Disney Parks into global behemoths. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1592, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for ingenuity

• ambiguity
• contiguity
• continuity
• incongruity
• perpetuity
• perspicuity
• promiscuity
• superfluity
• acuity
• annuity
• circuity
• congruity

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