imaginative
/ɪˈmædʒ.ɪ.nə.tɪv/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Having a good ability to imagine things. An imaginative person can think of new ideas, stories, or solutions. It can also describe something original and creative.
- She wrote an imaginative story for class.
- We need an imaginative solution to this problem.
- The film has an imaginative ending.
Adinary Nuance
Imaginative is closer to creative and original than to clever. Use it when someone can picture new ideas, stories, or designs in the mind. It is softer and more positive than inventive, which often suggests practical new inventions. It is also different from unrealistic, which can suggest ideas that are not practical.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- giàu tưởng tượng
- Spanish
- imaginativo
- Chinese
- 富有想象力
- Japanese
- 想像力豊かな
- Korean
- 상상력이 풍부한
Etymology
Imaginative comes from imagination, which came into English from Latin via French in the 14th century. The adjective became common later to describe creative thinking and original ideas.
Common phrases
an imaginative ideaan imaginative storyan imaginative solutionimaginative writing
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is imaginative a positive word?
- Yes. It usually praises new ideas, creative thinking, or original work.
- What is the difference between imaginative and creative?
- Creative is broader. Imaginative often means someone can think of vivid or original ideas.
- Can I use imaginative for a person?
- Yes. You can say, 'She is imaginative,' or 'He has an imaginative mind.'
- Is imaginative used in academic writing?
- Yes, especially when describing ideas, writing, solutions, or thinking.