ingenuity Hear it!

ingenuity Definition

in·ge·nu·ity (in′jə no̵̅o̅ə tē, -nyo̵̅o̅-)

noun

  1. Obsolete the quality of being ingenuous
  2. the quality of being ingenious; cleverness, originality, skill, etc.
  3. pl. -·ties an ingenious device

Etymology: L ingenuitas < ingenuus (see ingenuous): ingenuitysense infl. by assoc. with ingenious

ingenuity Synonyms

ingenuity

n.

inventiveness, imagination, resourcefulness; see ability 1, 2, originality.

ingenuity Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • instill: Our 20-year tradition of distinctive design instills ingenuity and originality into every toy.
  • admire: One has to admire the ingenuity of the croquet community.
  • underestimate: The case for men: Never underestimate the ingenuity of man.
  • demonstrate: Vehicles in these events are the most specialized in the sport with tremendous ingenuity demonstrated by the constructors, see about safaris.
  • require: It does require ingenuity to find excuses for them being incoherent.
  • display: The ingenuity displayed in their craft was often amusing.

Adjective modifier

  • human: The whole of human ingenuity is against a cold shower.
  • sheer: Yet he makes up for this by sheer ingenuity of script.
  • mechanical: Despite its mechanical ingenuity the ferry was never a commercial success principally due to insufficient traffic.
  • considerable: Yet considerable ingenuity was devoted to ignoring these figures.
  • remarkable: Their diverse key systems display his remarkable ingenuity for design, also evident in his patents.
  • Victorian: In fact it is tin, stained to resemble wood a fine example of Victorian ingenuity.

Preposition: on

part: Agility, initiative, and ingenuity on the part of CSS leaders are essential.

Noun used with modifier

  • engineering: The Trust's modern caravan is a marvel of engineering ingenuity with every basic amenity built into the construction.
  • design: This example illustrates our design ingenuity when creating a functional, space-saving and attractive flight of stairs.

Possessives

man: During prehistoric ages, the art of self defense was pretty much confined to man's own ingenuity.

Preposition: of

  • engineer: The little gun is truly a jewel, and a great tribute to the ingenuity of the engineers at Steyr.
  • man: The case for men: Never underestimate the ingenuity of man.
  • people: Captain Cook tells us that the ingenuity of these people appears in nothing more than in their canoes.
  • designer: The ingenuity of the designers is to reposition them so as to ensure their benefits are maximized.

Browse dictionary entries near ingenuity

  1. ingenious
  2. ingenerate
  3. ingeminate
  4. Inge
  5. ingather
  6. -ing
  7. ingénue
  8. infusorian
  9. infusorial
  10. infusive
  1. ingenuous
  2. ingenuously
  3. ingenuousness
  4. Ingersoll
  5. ingest
  6. ingesta
  7. ingle
  8. inglenook
  9. Inglewood
  10. inglorious