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

In much contemporary literary fiction, that’s often replaced by ingenuity. —New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025

Through its work with 245 member clubs in 149 countries, the FIA and its partners are using lessons from the track, the ingenuity of Silicon Valley and the rigour of global standards, to make America’s roads safer for everyone. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025

The human experience has to stay at the center of all design, because the technology doesn’t replace human ingenuities and humans. —Ayesha Javed, Time, 14 Oct. 2025

Educators are split too, amused by the ingenuity, yet frustrated that students are still finding ways to drift off task during lessons. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 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