imagination

noun

imag·​i·​na·​tion i-ˌma-jə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality

2

a

: creative ability

b

: ability to confront and deal with a problem : resourcefulness

use your imagination and get us out of here

c

: the thinking or active mind : interest

stories that fired the imagination

3

a

: a creation of the mind

especially : an idealized or poetic creation

b

: fanciful or empty assumption

Synonyms

• creativity
• imaginativeness

Examples of imagination in a Sentence

You can find a solution if you use a little imagination.

The author does not tell us what happens to the characters. We have to use our imagination.

He's a competent writer, but he lacks imagination.

Is it just my imagination, or is it getting warm in here?

Recent Examples on the Web

Yes, focus still matters—but not at the expense of imagination. —Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

What If Neanderthals Lived with Humans? Unlike humans, who are experts in optimization and always looking for ways to further perfect our efficiency, Neanderthals weren’t capable of the same imagination. —Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2025

The bizarre and fascinating sculpture smorgasbord that sprung from Smith’s imagination has been hanging out in my backyard, so to speak, for much of my life. —Paul Nicolaus, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025

But done right, theme park food is freeing, a chance suspend reality and eat something drawn from imagination. —Annemarie Dooling, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ymaginacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French ymaginacion, borrowed from Latin imāginātiōn-, imāginātiō, from imāginārī "to imagine" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing imagination

• a figment of one's imagination
• by any/no stretch of the imagination
• capture/catch someone's imagination
• capture someone's imagination
• catch the imagination of
• caught the public imagination
• flight of fancy/imagination/fantasy
• leave little to the imagination
• leave nothing to the imagination
• leave something to the imagination
• lively imagination

Rhymes for imagination

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

imagination

noun

imag·​i·​na·​tion im-ˌaj-ə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: the act or power of forming a mental picture of something not present and especially of something one has not known or experienced

2

: creative ability

3

: a creation of the mind

Medical Definition

imagination

noun

imag·​i·​na·​tion im-ˌaj-ə-ˈnā-shən 

: an act or process of forming a conscious idea or mental image of something never before wholly perceived in reality by the one forming the images (as through a synthesis of remembered elements of previous sensory experiences or ideas as modified by unconscious defense mechanisms)

also : the ability or gift of forming such conscious ideas or mental images especially for the purposes of artistic or intellectual creation