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

Other Word Forms

• inventiveness noun
• inventively adverb
• preinventive adjective
• uninventive adjective
• uninventively 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

Save room for the inventive desserts like the banana split topped with cotton candy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The music has the relaxed grooves of Mr. Parker’s trademark sound backed by Mr. McCraven’s energetic and inventive percussion.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

We’re trying to be more inventive in that way, as well.

Read more on MarketWatch

It traces Miller’s career from model in front of the camera to inventive photographer behind it, as she forged new paths in her Surrealist works and captured iconic images through her war and fashion photography.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But others have played that down, noting that Swift said last year that she was "blown away" by Charli XCX's work, and described the British star's music as "surreal and inventive".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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