adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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ĭn-vĕnʹtĭv
/ɪnˈvɛntɪv/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛntɪv
CMU ARPABET:IH2 N V EH1 N T IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of, or relating to invention; pertaining to the act of devising new mechanisms or processes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
an inventive pursuit
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Possessed of a particular capacity for the design of new mechanisms or processes, creative or skilful at inventing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
an inventive fellow
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Purposely fictive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
an inventive story
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
(used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action- Lewis Mumford
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an imaginative use of material
the invention of the knitting frame by another ingenious English clergyman
an ingenious device
had an inventive turn of mind
inventive ceramics
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: imaginative
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English inventif, inventyfe, borrowed from Old French inventif, borrowed from Medieval Latin inventivus. By surface analysis, invent + -ive.
Across languages
Translations
40 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
inventiu
— of, or relating to invention
French:
inventif
— of, or relating to invention
German:
Erfindungs-
— of, or relating to invention
Italian:
inventivo
— of, or relating to invention
Portuguese:
inventivo
— of, or relating to invention
Romanian:
de invenție
— of, or relating to invention
Romanian:
invențial
— of, or relating to invention
Belarusian:
вынахо́длівы
(vynaxódlivy)
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Bulgarian:
изобрета́телен
(izobretátelen)
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Bulgarian:
нахо́дчив
(nahódčiv)
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Catalan:
enginyós
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Catalan:
inventiu
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Czech:
vynalézavý
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Dutch:
vindingrijk
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Finnish:
kekseliäs
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Finnish:
luova
— creative, or skilful at inventing
French:
inventif
— creative, or skilful at inventing
German:
erfinderisch
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Greek:
εφευρετικός
(efevretikós)
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Ancient Greek:
εὑρετικός
(heuretikós)
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Hungarian:
inventív
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Hungarian:
invenciózus
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Hungarian:
leleményes
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Hungarian:
ötletes
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Hungarian:
ötletgazdag
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Hungarian:
találékony
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Irish:
airgtheach
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Italian:
inventivo
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Polish:
wynalazczy
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Polish:
pomysłowy
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Portuguese:
inventivo
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Portuguese:
engenhoso
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Romanian:
inventiv
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Russian:
изобрета́тельный
(izobretátelʹnyj)
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Russian:
нахо́дчивый
(naxódčivyj)
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Spanish:
inventivo
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Swedish:
uppfinningsrik
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Ukrainian:
винахі́дливий
(vynaxídlyvyj)
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Ukrainian:
вига́дливий
(vyhádlyvyj)
— creative, or skilful at inventing
Welsh:
dyfeisgar
— creative, or skilful at inventing
