imagination
10 synonyms and 1 antonym for imagination, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The mental ability to form new ideas, images, or concepts not currently perceived by the senses.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use imagination
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
vivid imagination
use your imagination
fire the imagination
active imagination
Etymology
From Old French imaginacion, from Latin imaginatio, built on the verb imaginari ("to picture to oneself").
Full origin of imagination →Frequently asked questions
What does “imagination” mean?
The word “imagination” means the mental ability to form new ideas, images, or concepts not currently perceived by the senses. In plain terms, your mind's ability to picture things that aren't actually in front of you, or to invent new ideas.
How do you pronounce “imagination”?
“Imagination” is pronounced ih-mad-zhuh-NAY-shuhn (/ɪˌmæd͡ʒəˈneɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “imagination” in a sentence?
Here is “imagination” used in a sentence: “Children often have a vivid imagination.”
What part of speech is “imagination”?
“Imagination” is a noun.
Where does the word “imagination” come from?
The word “imagination” comes from Latin. From Old French imaginacion, from Latin imaginatio, built on the verb imaginari ("to picture to oneself").
Is “imagination” a common word?
“Imagination” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between imagination and creativity?
Imagination is the mental ability to form new ideas, images, or concepts not currently perceived by the senses. Creativity usually goes a step further, turning those imagined ideas into something real or useful. In short, imagination conceives while creativity produces.
What is the difference between imagination and fantasy?
Imagination is the broad mental power to picture things not present to the senses, and it can be applied to practical problems as well as fanciful ones. Fantasy tends to mean imagined scenes that are deliberately unrealistic or wishful. Fantasy is one product of the imagination.
What adjectives commonly describe 'imagination'?
Common collocations include 'vivid imagination', 'wild imagination', 'fertile imagination', and 'active imagination', all suggesting a strong ability to form fresh mental images. The phrase 'use your imagination' invites someone to picture possibilities for themselves.
