imaginative

adjective

imag·​i·​na·​tive i-'ma-jə-nə-tiv 

i-ˈmaj-nə-tiv;

-ˈma-jə-ˌnā-

1

a

: of, relating to, or characterized by imagination

b

: devoid of truth : false

2

: given to imagining : having a lively imagination

3

: of or relating to images

especially : showing a command of imagery

imaginatively adverb

imaginativeness noun

Synonyms

• clever
• creative
• ingenious
• innovational
• innovative
• innovatory
• inventive
• original
• originative
• Promethean

Examples of imaginative in a Sentence

She wrote an imaginative story about life on the planet Venus.

The restaurant's menu is quite imaginative.

Recent Examples on the Web

The setup risks absurdity—the cast (which includes Nathan) essentially wears gorilla suits—but the premise is developed with meticulous and quasi-biological specificity, anthropological rigor, and imaginative speculation about the creatures’ emotions and senses of selfhood. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2024

These toys will peel your kids away from screens and keep them immersed for hours in imaginative play. —Nora Colomer, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2024

That also began Romero’s current journey toward staged imaginative photographs. —Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024

The pragmatist in me asked: Who, after displaying some imaginative empathy, can’t find common ground, can’t picture themselves in someone else’s shoes? —Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ymaginatif "employing mental images, curious, inventive," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, "of the imagination, having a strong imagination, shrewd," borrowed from Medieval Latin imāginātīvus "of the imagination," from Latin imāginātus, past participle of imāginārī "to imagine" + -īvus -ive

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

imaginative

adjective

imag·​i·​na·​tive im-ˈaj-(ə-)nət-iv 

-ˈaj-ə-ˌnāt-

1

: of, relating to, or showing imagination

2

: having a lively imagination

imaginatively adverb

imaginativeness noun