creative

1 of 2

adjective

cre·​a·​tive krē-ˈā-tiv How to pronounce creative (audio)
ˈkrē-ˌā-
1
: marked by the ability or power to create : given to creating
the creative impulse
a creative genius
2
: having the quality of something created rather than imitated : imaginative
the creative arts
creative writing
3
: managed so as to get around legal or conventional limits
creative financing
also : deceptively arranged so as to conceal or defraud
creative accounting
creatively adverb
creativeness noun

creative

2 of 2

noun

1
: one who is creative
especially : one involved in the creation of advertisements
2
: creative activity or the material produced by it especially in advertising

Examples of creative in a Sentence

Adjective She's a very creative person. She has one of the most creative minds in the business. They've come up with some creative new ways to make money. a creative solution to a difficult problem He teaches creative writing at the university. the first step in the creative process It turns out that the company's report of record profits last year was due to some creative accounting.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
So, Brier left Door 24 after two years to become a writers assistant on the Steven Soderbergh web series Command Z and began flexing her own creative muscles by making TikTok videos on the side. Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Feb. 2025 Many of us take for granted creative license and the freedom of expression that undergirds it. Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2025
Noun
In an industry where Black creatives have long been underrepresented and overlooked, uplifting and honoring these voices—especially in predominantly white spaces like fashion and beauty—is more vital than ever. Lyric Christian, Essence, 7 Feb. 2025 The group also built a marketing internship program in order to teach young Black creatives about the business of commercial theater and will launch a design expo and a musical-theater scholarship later this year. Charlotte Alter, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for creative 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin creātīvus, from Latin creātus, past participle of creāre "to beget, give birth to, create entry 1" + -īvus -ive

Noun

derivative of creative entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of creative was circa 1513

Dictionary Entries Near creative

Cite this Entry

“Creative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creative. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

creative

adjective
cre·​ative
krē-ˈāt-iv
1
: able to create especially new and original things
2
: showing or requiring imagination
creative writing
creatively adverb
creativeness noun
creativity
ˌkrē-ā-ˈtiv-ət-ē
ˌkrē-ə-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on creative

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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