ingenious
[ in-jeen-yuhs ]
/ ɪnˈdʒin yəs /
adjective
characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction: an ingenious machine.
cleverly inventive or resourceful: an ingenious press agent.
Obsolete.
- intelligent; showing genius.
- ingenuous.
Origin of ingenious
SYNONYMS FOR ingenious
usage note for ingenious
Ingenious and
ingenuous are now distinct from each other and are not synonyms.
Ingenious means “characterized by cleverness” or “cleverly inventive,” as in contriving new explanations or methods:
an ingenious device; ingenious designers.
Ingenuous means “candid” or “innocent”:
an ingenuous and sincere statement; a thug with the ingenuous eyes of a choirboy.
OTHER WORDS FROM ingenious
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ingenious
ingenious ingenuous (see usage note at the current entry)Words nearby ingenious
ingelow,
ingemar,
ingeminate,
ingenerate,
ingenhousz,
ingenious,
ingenuity,
ingenuous,
ingerland,
ingersoll,
ingest
Example sentences from the Web for ingenious
British Dictionary definitions for ingenious
ingenious
/ (ɪnˈdʒiːnjəs, -nɪəs) /
adjective
possessing or done with ingenuity; skilful or clever
obsolete
having great intelligence; displaying genius
Derived forms of ingenious
ingeniously, adverb ingeniousness, nounWord Origin for ingenious
C15: from Latin
ingeniōsus, from
ingenium natural ability; see
engine