First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
ingenious
adjective in·ge·nious \in-ˈjēn-yəs\
: very smart or clever : having or showing ingenuity
Full Definition of INGENIOUS
1
obsolete : showing or calling for intelligence, aptitude, or discernment
2
: having or showing an unusual aptitude for discovering, inventing, or contriving <an ingenious detective>
3
: marked by originality, resourcefulness, and cleverness in conception or execution <an ingenious contraption>
— in·ge·nious·ly adverb
— in·ge·nious·ness noun
See ingenious defined for English-language learners
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Examples of INGENIOUS
- How many dog-size bathrobes (an ingenious device) are out there? —David Colman, Vogue, April 2001
- … spacecraft engineers tried to come up with ways to “unstick” the antenna. Those attempts failed, but by ingenious software and mission-sequencing techniques … the Galileo mission was still able to fulfill nearly all of its scientific requirements and return a rich quantity of scientific data … —Louis Friedman et al., Encyclopedia of the Solar System, 1999
- … an ingenious method of checking errors … —W. David Gardner, Datamation, June 1982
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Origin of INGENIOUS
Middle English ingenyous, from Middle French ingenieus, from Latin ingeniosus, from ingenium natural capacity — more at engine
Related to INGENIOUS
- Synonyms
- clever, imaginative, creative, innovational, innovative, innovatory, inventive, original, originative, Promethean
- Antonyms
- uncreative, unimaginative, uninventive, unoriginal
Synonym Discussion of INGENIOUS
clever, adroit, cunning, ingenious mean having or showing practical wit or skill in contriving. clever stresses physical or mental quickness, deftness, or great aptitude <a person clever with horses>. adroit often implies a skillful use of expedients to achieve one's purpose in spite of difficulties <an adroit negotiator>. cunning implies great skill in constructing or creating <a filmmaker cunning in his use of special effects>. ingenious suggests the power of inventing or discovering a new way of accomplishing something <an ingenious software engineer>.
INGENIOUS Defined for Kids
ingenious
adjective in·ge·nious \in-ˈjēn-yəs\
Definition of INGENIOUS for Kids
: showing ingenuity : clever <an ingenious idea>
— in·ge·nious·ly adverb
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