ingenuity

noun

in·​ge·​nu·​i·​ty ˌin-jə-ˈnü-ə-tē How to pronounce ingenuity (audio)
-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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While wallpaper remains a constant, our technological ingenuity and uses for it are continuously evolving. Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2025 Sarah’s sense of ingenuity and self-reliance was hard won. Jessica Pishko, New Yorker, 15 July 2025 Algorithmic ingenuity, hardware scale-up, hybrid creativity and software industrialization reinforce one another, chipping months or years off earlier forecasts. Yuval Boger, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025 With persistence, investigative ingenuity, and cutting-edge genetic tools, the grandmothers have so far tracked down 140 of those missing children. Julia M. Klein, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ingenuity

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1592, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of ingenuity was circa 1592

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Cite this Entry

“Ingenuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingenuity. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on ingenuity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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