adj Uncommon

inventive

ihn-VEHN-tihv

Inventive (adj) means Good at coming up with new ideas or solutions; creative. Example: “The chef is known for his inventive use of local ingredients.”

adj

Good at coming up with new ideas or solutions; creative.

"The chef is known for his inventive use of local ingredients."

"She found an inventive way to fix the broken zip."

How to use inventive

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCreative and resourceful, especially at solving problems in new ways.

Common pairings

inventive solution inventive mind inventive approach

Word forms

more inventive comparative, most inventive superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The chef is known for his _____ use of local ingredients.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin inventivus, from Latin inveniō, "to invent."

Origin: Medieval Latin

Rhymes for inventive

five give dive live olive drive alive strive derive active arrive native

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Frequently asked questions

What does “inventive” mean?

The word “inventive” means good at coming up with new ideas or solutions; creative. In plain terms, creative and resourceful, especially at solving problems in new ways.

How do you pronounce “inventive”?

“Inventive” is pronounced ihn-VEHN-tihv (/ɪnˈvɛntɪv/ in IPA).

How do you use “inventive” in a sentence?

Here is “inventive” used in a sentence: “The chef is known for his inventive use of local ingredients.”

What part of speech is “inventive”?

“Inventive” is an adjective.

Where does the word “inventive” come from?

The word “inventive” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin inventivus, from Latin inveniō, "to invent.".

Is “inventive” a common word?

“Inventive” is an uncommon word in modern English.