Definition of ingenuity
ingenuities
1 obsolete : candor, ingenuousness
2a : skill or cleverness in devising or combining : inventivenessb : cleverness or aptness of design or contrivance
3 : an ingenious device or contrivance
Read the Latest from M-W
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 of ingenuity from the Web
-
Who could be against highlighting the ingenuity, self-reliance, and success of our nation’s homegrown entrepreneurs and manufacturers?
-
The charm of the experiment resided in its simple ingenuity; from common household items Darwin had made a marvelous discovery: 537 plants!
-
Nevertheless, by and large, the scientists have an enormous confidence in the ingenuity of humans — a confidence perhaps bolstered by their appreciation for climate change, which is, after all, a human invention, too.
-
Seattle-area companies such as Starbucks, Microsoft and Amazon are iconic worldwide brands, symbols of Yankee ingenuity and quality.
-
For Chanel's fall 2017 couture show in Paris, designer Karl Lagerfeld managed to pull off a feat of architectural ingenuity by placing a life-size version of the Eiffel Tower in the middle of the Grand Palais.
-
The men's ingenuity was as great as their desperation to escape from Alcatraz, now one of America's most popular tourist attractions.
-
Pratt's technological ingenuity and passion for fish habitat restoration have combined to create dozens of stunning underwater videos and still images of trout and salmon.
-
Since then, people have marveled at the ingenuity of the design, which incorporates principles of physics and thermodynamics to create an optimal shelter in the frozen north.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ingenuity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of ingenuity
circa 1592
INGENUITY Defined for English Language Learners
ingenuity
playDefinition of ingenuity for English Language Learners
-
: skill or cleverness that allows someone to solve problems, invent things, etc.
-
: a clever device or method
INGENUITY Defined for Kids
ingenuity
playDefinition of ingenuity for Students
ingenuities
: skill or cleverness in discovering, inventing, or planning
Learn More about ingenuity
-
See words that rhyme with ingenuity Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ingenuity Spanish Central: Translation of ingenuity Nglish: Translation of ingenuity for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ingenuity for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up ingenuity? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!