Word
ingenious
Phoneticsin·ge·nious, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈdʒinjəs/
UK/ɪndʒˈiːnɪəs/
Definitions
01cleverly designed
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describes a thing or an idea that is very clever and original.
adj. characterised by cleverness or originality of invention or construction; often applied to solutions, devices, or plans.
“The designer found an ingenious way to fit a bed and a desk into the tiny room.”
“The engineers developed an ingenious cooling system that used significantly less electricity than traditional models.”
Usage
Usually placed before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
Pitfall
The plan was very ingenuous.
The plan was very ingenious.
Do not confuse 'ingenious' (clever) with 'ingenuous' (honest and innocent).
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'ingenuous'. Remind them that 'ingenious' is related to 'genius'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02inventive person
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describes a person who is very good at inventing things or solving problems in clever ways.
adj. possessing or showing great skill at invention or discovery; resourceful and brilliant in mental character.
“He was an ingenious cook who could make a great meal out of almost nothing.”
“The ingenious young programmer managed to bypass the security flaw that had baffled the senior staff for weeks.”
Teaching tip
While 'clever' is common in speech, 'ingenious' is a more sophisticated choice for academic or professional praise.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Confusables
Ingenious describes a clever idea or person, while ingenuous describes a person who is innocent and lacks guile.
RememberIngenious has an 'i' for intelligence; ingenuous has a 'u' for unsuspecting.
Real-World Examples
“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.” Etymology
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.
Word family
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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