Ingenious
ɪnˈdʒiːniəs
Definitions
Marked by special aptitude for discovering, inventing, or contriving.
ɪnˈdʒiːniəs
Showing cleverness, originality, and inventiveness.
She devised an ingenious plan to escape the maze.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone solves a puzzle in a really clever and creative way. That person is being ingenious! Like, if you found a super smart way to build a fort, you're being ingenious!
👶 For kids: Being super clever and smart, like figuring out a trick or making something new.
More Examples
The ingenious design of the clock fascinated everyone.
His ingenious invention revolutionized the industry.
How It's Used
"The engineers devised an ingenious solution to the bridge's structural problem."
"The company's marketing strategy was ingenious, attracting a large customer base."
"The scientist's ingenious experiment provided crucial data."
From Latin *ingeniōsus* ('clever, of good natural capacity'), derived from *ingenium* ('innate quality, talent, cleverness'), and ultimately from *in-gignere* ('to beget, produce').
The word 'ingenious' has been used since the 16th century to describe qualities of cleverness and inventiveness, often used in the context of art and invention.
Memory tip
Think of 'engine' – ingenious people create and build like engineers.
Word Origin
"Having an inborn talent or ability."