Word
imaginative
Phoneticsimag·i·na·tive
US/ˌɪˈmædʒənətɪv/
UK/ɪmˈædʒɪnətˌɪv/
Definitions
01creative or inventive
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having or showing new and exciting ideas; being very creative.
adj. possessing or displaying a lively and creative imagination; characterized by originality.
“The chef created an imaginative menu that combined flavors from three different countries.”
“The architect's imaginative use of recycled glass transformed the dark industrial space into a vibrant community hub.”
Pitfall
He is an imaginary writer.
He is an imaginative writer.
Use 'imaginative' for someone with a good imagination; 'imaginary' means something is not real, like a ghost.
Antonyms
02fanciful or unreal
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describes something that is not based on facts or is purely made up.
adj. tending toward the fanciful or fictitious; occasionally used to describe accounts that lack a basis in reality.
“The witness gave an imaginative account of the event that did not match the video.”
“The biographer was criticized for including several imaginative passages that lacked any documentary evidence from the subject's life.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“It’s sometimes fun to be imaginative, silly and uniquely yourself – and children can be true to themselves, including at school.” “It's an imaginative solution to a national problem.” Etymology
From Middle English ymagynatif, from Middle French imaginatif, from Medieval Latin imāginātīvus. By surface analysis, imagine + -ative.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/imaginative