imagination

[ ih-maj-uh-ney-shuhn ]

noun

1. the faculty of imagining, or of forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses.
2. the action or process of forming such images or concepts.
3. the faculty of producing ideal creations consistent with reality, as in literature, as distinct from the power of creating illustrative or decorative imagery. Compare fancy ( def 9 ).
4. the product of imagining a conception or mental creation, often a baseless or fanciful one.
5. ability to face and resolve difficulties; resourcefulness:

   a job that requires imagination.

   Synonyms: thought, enterprise, ingenuity

6. Psychology. the power of reproducing images stored in the memory under the suggestion of associated images reproductive imagination or of recombining former experiences in the creation of new images directed at a specific goal or aiding in the solution of problems creative imagination.
7. (in Kantian epistemology) synthesis of data from the sensory manifold into objects by means of the categories.
8. Archaic. a plan, scheme, or plot.

imagination

/ ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the faculty or action of producing ideas, esp mental images of what is not present or has not been experienced
2. mental creative ability
3. the ability to deal resourcefully with unexpected or unusual problems, circumstances, etc
4. (in romantic literary criticism, esp that of S. T. Coleridge) a creative act of perception that joins passive and active elements in thinking and imposes unity on the poetic material Compare fancy

Derived Forms

• imˌagiˈnational, adjective

Other Words From

• i·magi·nation·al adjective
• nonim·agi·nation·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imagination¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, Middle French, from Latin imāginātiōn- (stem of imāginātiō ) “mental image, fancy,” equivalent to imāgināt(us), past participle of the verb imāginārī imagine ( imāgin-, stem of imāgō image + -ātus -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Idioms and Phrases

see figment of one's imagination .

Synonym Study

See fancy.

Example Sentences

Ultimately, Trump's 2024 victory reflects exactly that kind of failure of imagination and comprehension.

From Salon

“The further away from childhood we get, the more support we need to access our imagination and wonder.”

From Los Angeles Times

Called upon to play New Orleans music, swing, bebop, avant-garde, fusion, modal jazz, jazz rock, acid-jazz and more, he responded with extraordinary skill and imagination.

From Los Angeles Times

Each seller brings their own story, knowledge, and imagination.

From Los Angeles Times

“And I know they’ll say they were afraid of demonstrations. How lacking in imagination? How out of touch with voters?”

From Slate

Related Words

• artistry
• awareness
• fancy
• fantasy
• idea
• image
• imagery
• ingenuity
• insight
• inspiration
• intelligence
• inventiveness
• originality
• resourcefulness
• thought
• vision
• wit