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

Youcis’s success at memeing her ideas into the public is the result of her ingenuity as a creator. —Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 26 Nov. 2025

Through their merging of firsthand manufacturing experience with technical ingenuity, Igor Kulakov and Viktor Petrenko are showing what is possible in factory automation. —Nia Bowers, USA Today, 24 Nov. 2025

Deconstruction and ingenuity with materials are at the forefront of Dadu’s luxury and ready-to-wear clothing creation. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 17 Nov. 2025

Göransson said he was constantly impressed by Welcker’s ingenuity in finding ways to get the best production sound. —Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 13 Nov. 2025

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