# inventive

/ˌɪnˈvɛntɪv/ (US) · /ɪnvˈɛntɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inventive
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. creative and original

adjective · CEFR B2

having the ability to create or design new things or to think of new ideas.

For teachers: possessing a specific capacity for original thought or the design of new processes and mechanisms.

- The chef is very inventive and always finds new ways to use local vegetables.
- The engineering team took an inventive approach to the structural challenges, utilizing recycled materials in ways that had never been attempted before.

### 2. relating to invention

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

connected to the act of making new machines or processes.

For teachers: pertaining to the formal act or process of devising new mechanisms.

- The company is proud of its long history of inventive success in the electronics industry.
- The patent office evaluated the inventive step of the application to determine if the technology was truly a novel contribution to the field.

### 3. fictional or made up

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

describes a story or explanation that is created from the imagination, often to deceive.

For teachers: purposely fictive or fabricated; often used to describe elaborate excuses or narratives.

- He gave an inventive excuse for why he was late to the meeting.
- The witness provided an inventive account of the evening's events, though the prosecutor quickly identified several logical inconsistencies in the story.

## Examples

- She is an inventive cook who never uses a recipe.
- The engineer found an inventive way to fix the machine using only basic tools.
- Critics lauded the director's inventive use of lighting and sound, which transformed the small stage into a vast, haunting landscape without the need for expensive sets.

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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.