ingenious
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
describes a thing or an idea that is very clever and original.
characterised by cleverness or originality of invention or construction; often applied to solutions, devices, or plans.
Simple“The designer found an ingenious way to fit a bed and a desk into the tiny room.”
In context“The engineers developed an ingenious cooling system that used significantly less electricity than traditional models.”
UsageUsually placed before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse this with 'ingenuous'. Remind them that 'ingenious' is related to 'genius'.
PitfallThe plan was very ingenuous. The plan was very ingenious.Do not confuse 'ingenious' (clever) with 'ingenuous' (honest and innocent).
SynonymsAntonymsunimaginativeclumsy - 02 C1 Advanced
describes a person who is very good at inventing things or solving problems in clever ways.
possessing or showing great skill at invention or discovery; resourceful and brilliant in mental character.
Simple“He was an ingenious cook who could make a great meal out of almost nothing.”
In context“The ingenious young programmer managed to bypass the security flaw that had baffled the senior staff for weeks.”
Teacher's tipWhile 'clever' is common in speech, 'ingenious' is a more sophisticated choice for academic or professional praise.
SynonymsAntonymsdulluncreative
ingenious vs ingenuous — Ingenious describes a clever idea or person, while ingenuous describes a person who is innocent and lacks guile.
“Life hacks are everywhere on social media—people reuse everyday materials and objects to create ingenious solutions to common problems and needs.”
“That is partly down to the genius of the play but Fall adds an ingenious tweak in the suggestion that Tony and Ange are of “Pakistani” origin.”
Borrowed from Middle French ingénieux, from Old French engenious, from Latin ingeniōsus (“endowed with good natural capacity, gifted with genius”), from ingenium (“innate or natural quality, natural capacity, genius”), from in- (“in”) + gignere (“to produce”), Old Latin genere. See also engine.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.