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

By and large, though, the institution maintained bipartisan support as the guardian of America’s history, ingenuity and natural heritage, even as political polarization spread and culture wars raged. — Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2026

The scope and ingenuity of scrying continually boggle the mind. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Detroit won 31-29, but the lopsided blow-by-blow revealed the ingenuity of their staffs and players. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

But not all of these fortunes can be chalked up to just good old-fashioned hard work, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial hustle in delivering better products and services to consumers. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 Sep. 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