ingenious

[ in-jeen-yuhs ]
/ ɪnˈdʒin yəs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ingenious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction: an ingenious machine.
cleverly inventive or resourceful: an ingenious press agent.
Obsolete.
  1. intelligent; showing genius.
  2. ingenuous.

Origin of ingenious

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin ingeniōsus, equivalent to ingeni(um) natural disposition, cleverness ( in- in-2 + gen- (base of gignere to bring into being; cf. genitor) + -ium -ium) + -ōsus -ous

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

Words related to ingeniousness

contraption, brainchild, ingenuity, creativity, doodad, imagination, design, gimmick, gizmo, apparatus, opus, concoction, novelty, resourcefulness, originality, genius, innovation, discovery, development, gadget

Example sentences from the Web for ingeniousness

British Dictionary definitions for ingeniousness

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, noun

Word Origin for ingenious

C15: from Latin ingeniōsus, from ingenium natural ability; see engine