# creativity

/ˌkɹieɪˈtɪvəti/ (US) · /kɹiːˌeɪtˈɪvɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/creativity
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. imagination and original ideas

noun · CEFR B2

the ability to think of new ideas or create something original and artistic.

For teachers: the use of imagination or original ideas to create something; the faculty of generating novel and valuable concepts or objects.

- The teacher encouraged creativity by letting the students choose their own art projects.
- The marketing team's creativity was evident in the way they transformed a mundane household product into a must-have lifestyle accessory through clever storytelling.

### 2. the quality of being creative

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the quality of being good at making things or solving problems in a new way.

For teachers: the quality or state of being creative, often used in professional contexts to describe problem-solving abilities.

- We need more creativity in our approach to solving this technical problem.
- The CEO argued that fostering a culture of creativity was essential for the company to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

## Examples

- The art teacher always encouraged creativity in her classroom.
- The marketing team needs someone with enough creativity to design a completely new advertising campaign for the summer.
- While often romanticised as a sudden flash of inspiration, true creativity usually requires a deep understanding of existing conventions before one can successfully subvert them.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.