ingenuity

noun

in·​ge·​nu·​i·​ty ˌin-jə-ˈnü-ə-tē How to pronounce ingenuity (audio)
-ˈnyü-
plural ingenuities
1
a
: skill or cleverness in devising or combining : inventiveness
b
: cleverness or aptness of design or contrivance
2
: an ingenious device or contrivance
3
obsolete : candor, ingenuousness

Examples of ingenuity in a Sentence

She showed amazing ingenuity in finding ways to cut costs. It will take considerable ingenuity to fix these problems.
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.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a masterwork of engineering and human ingenuity. Josh Dinner, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2025 Get the blend of ingenuity and oversight right, and AI agents become an equalizer, widening access to credit and cutting costs for families and small businesses. Nizan Geslevich Packin, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025 Curiously, tactical ingenuity was not seen as crucial an aspect as managing players’ egos, considering the squad was enriched with quality and could get by, in most games, on individual talent alone. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025 Mechanical ingenuity and pragmatism lent itself to its range of quartz and mechanical timepieces for collectors over the decades. Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ingenuity

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1592, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of ingenuity was circa 1592

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ingenuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingenuity. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

ingenuity

noun
in·​ge·​nu·​ity
ˌin-jə-ˈn(y)ü-ət-ē
plural ingenuities
1
: skill or cleverness in discovering, inventing, or planning
2
: an ingenious device

More from Merriam-Webster on ingenuity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!