Is creative the same as artistic?

Not exactly. Creative is broader and can mean original thinking, not only art.

Can I say a creative person?

Yes. It means the person has many new ideas or strong imagination.

Is creative common in business English?

Yes. People often say creative solution, creative thinking, or creative team.

What is the difference between creative and innovative?

Creative means full of new ideas. Innovative usually means new and useful in practice.

← Dictionary

creative

/kriˈeɪ.tɪv/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Creative means having the ability to make new ideas, things, or solutions. It can also describe someone who uses imagination in art, writing, or problem-solving.

She is very creative with simple materials.
We need a creative solution to this problem.
The class did a creative writing exercise.

Adinary Nuance

Creative is broader than artistic. Use creative when you mean imaginative, original, or good at making new ideas. Use artistic more for art and beauty, and innovative more for new methods or products. A person can be creative without working in art.

In other languages

Vietnamese: sáng tạo
Spanish: creativo
Chinese: 有创造力的
Japanese: 創造的な
Korean: 창의적인

Etymology

Creative comes from Latin creare, meaning “to make” or “to bring forth.” It entered English through French in the late Middle Ages, and later became common in art and business.

Common phrases

creative thinkingcreative writingcreative workcreative process

Synonyms

imaginative inventive original innovative

Frequently asked questions

Is creative the same as artistic?: Not exactly. Creative is broader and can mean original thinking, not only art.
Can I say a creative person?: Yes. It means the person has many new ideas or strong imagination.
Is creative common in business English?: Yes. People often say creative solution, creative thinking, or creative team.
What is the difference between creative and innovative?: Creative means full of new ideas. Innovative usually means new and useful in practice.