inventive

[ in-ven-tiv ]

adjective

1. apt at inventing or thinking up new machines or devices, methods, solutions, etc., or at improvising from what is at hand; innovative or ingenious:

   Luckily the bike mechanic is a most inventive person—you’ll be surprised at what he can do with a piece of wire and some scrap metal.

2. apt at creating with the imagination:

   The delightful and tirelessly inventive storyteller is back with an animated stop-motion adventure.

3. being the product of imagination, resourcefulness, etc.; creative and original:

   It’s an enthralling, inventive, and wholly unique exhibit from an artist without peer.

4. relating to or used for inventing:

   These recordings captured the musician at the height of her inventive power.

inventive

/ ɪnˈvɛntɪv /

adjective

1. skilled or quick at contriving; ingenious; resourceful
2. characterized by inventive skill

   an inventive programme of work

3. of or relating to invention

Derived Forms

• inˈventiveness, noun
• inˈventively, adverb

Other Words From

• in·ven·tive·ly adverb
• in·ven·tive·ness noun
• pre·in·ven·tive adjective
• un·in·ven·tive adjective
• un·in·ven·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inventive¹

First recorded in 1400–50; invent + -ive; replacing late Middle English inventif, from Old French

Example Sentences

The worthy effort to emphasize that much of the artist’s inventive genius — unfurling in thousands of manuscript pages, rather than oil paint and tempera — makes the dull staging a perhaps unavoidable conceit.

From Los Angeles Times

“I have rarely worked with such an inventive, focused and technically brilliant actor,” said Jeremy Howe – the editor of the programme, "or with such a lovely person".

From BBC

Looking back on his career, Jones bristled at the idea that his later achievements were due to his stature and connections rather than consistently inventive musicianship.

From Los Angeles Times

In his formally inventive graphic novel, McGuire used frames within frames to visually represent different time periods within one panel.

From Los Angeles Times

The film’s inventive visual style made the surreal seem mundane and everyday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gifted
• imaginative
• ingenious
• innovative
• original
• resourceful