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

• 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

Ford aims to compete with Chinese automakers through ingenuity and efficiency, not by lowering labor costs. —Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Finding studio apartment ideas that’ll work for you may require a bit of extra ingenuity, planning, and editing, but a stylish and functional end result is absolutely possible—and well worth the extra effort. —Elizabeth Yuko, Architectural Digest, 12 Aug. 2025

Advertisement The next move is up to Israel, which within living memory was known less for its military might than for its ingenuity. —Karl Vick, Time, 1 Aug. 2025

Allow 45 minutes to marvel at these delicate works and learn how each basket tells a story of survival, trade and island ingenuity. —New York Times, 31 July 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