imaginative

adjective

imag·​i·​na·​tive i-ˈma-jə-nə-tiv How to pronounce imaginative (audio)
i-ˈmaj-nə-tiv;
-ˈma-jə-ˌnā-
Synonyms of imaginative
1
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by imagination
an imaginative story
b
: tending to provoke, excite, or enliven the imagination
made some imaginative comments
c
: able to handle new or difficult problems : resourceful
a young and imaginative new leader
d
: full of freshness, originality, or vividness
imaginative designs
an imaginative menu
2
: given to imagining : having a lively imagination
a child's imaginative life
an imaginative filmmaker
3
: of or relating to images
especially : showing a command of imagery
imaginative wording
4
: devoid of truth : false
Reports of the incident were wholly imaginative.
imaginatively adverb
imaginativeness noun

Examples of imaginative in a Sentence

She wrote an imaginative story about life on the planet Venus. The restaurant's menu is quite imaginative.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This was an exciting, imaginative, and beautiful story about grief, family, parallel universes, trees, and mushrooms. — Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026 Rather than preserving history, Capella reinterprets it—using the city's cultural past as the backdrop for one of Southeast Asia's most imaginative luxury hotels. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026 Their story is drawn from Alberto Conejero’s play La Piedra Oscura, which in turn was inspired by Federico García Lorca’s unfinished work, La Bola Negra — which is itself also dramatized as part of Los Javis’ imaginative tapestry. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 Below, shop some of the top toys for kids of all ages, including imaginative toys for preschoolers, interactive toys for big kids and toys focused on learning and development for babies and toddlers. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for imaginative

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ymaginatif "employing mental images, curious, inventive," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, "of the imagination, having a strong imagination, shrewd," borrowed from Medieval Latin imāginātīvus "of the imagination," from Latin imāginātus, past participle of imāginārī "to imagine" + -īvus -ive

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of imaginative was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Imaginative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imaginative. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

imaginative

adjective
imag·​i·​na·​tive im-ˈaj-(ə-)nət-iv How to pronounce imaginative (audio)
-ˈaj-ə-ˌnāt-
1
: of, relating to, or showing imagination
2
: having a lively imagination
imaginatively adverb
imaginativeness noun
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