ingenious

adjective in·ge·nious \in-ˈjēn-yəs\

: very smart or clever : having or showing ingenuity

Full Definition of INGENIOUS

obsolete : showing or calling for intelligence, aptitude, or discernment

: having or showing an unusual aptitude for discovering, inventing, or contriving <an ingenious detective>

: marked by originality, resourcefulness, and cleverness in conception or execution <an ingenious contraption>

— in·ge·nious·ly adverb

— in·ge·nious·ness noun

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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

First Known Use: 15th century

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>.

INGENIOUSNESS Defined for Kids