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 success of the mission is a tribute to the professionalism, capability and ingenuity of the American military. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026

What unfolds is not a story of deception, but of unexpected ingenuity. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2026

The once highly regarded and pricey hub for tech dreamers and fledgling startups has devolved from a breeding ground for ingenuity and innovation — a place of hope — to something closer to an American nightmare. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026

Over the past century, human ingenuity and technological progress have created numerous ways for humanity to destroy itself, including through nuclear war, climate change, biological threats and, most recently, artificial intelligence. —Daniel Holz, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1592, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for ingenuity

• acuity
• annuity
• circuity
• congruity
• fatuity
• gratuity
• tenuity
• vacuity
• ambiguity
• contiguity
• continuity
• incongruity

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