imaginative
Americanadjective
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characterized by or bearing evidence of imagination.
an imaginative tale.
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of, relating to, or concerned with imagination.
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given to imagining, as persons.
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having exceptional powers of imagination.
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lacking truth; fanciful.
adjective
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produced by or indicative of a vivid or creative imagination
an imaginative story
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having a vivid imagination
Other Word Forms
- imaginatively adverb
- imaginativeness noun
- overimaginative adjective
- overimaginatively adverb
- overimaginativeness noun
- unimaginative adjective
- unimaginatively adverb
Etymology
Origin of imaginative
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin imāginātīvus imaginary, imaginative, equivalent to Latin imāgināt ( us ) imagined ( imagination ) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English imaginatif < Middle French < Medieval Latin, as above
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Their low cost of entry and imaginative wagering options attract many who might not consider more conventional investing platforms.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
Director Yuval Sharon’s company debut is an imaginative, expansive production headed by two top-flight singers, Lise Davidsen and Michael Spyres.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
That’s not a very imaginative assessment of what’s happening.
From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026
"When they're very young they're so curious and they're imaginative and they want to try things."
From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026
This is the charming and imaginative little fable the boy invented.
From "Twelve Angry Men" by Reginald Rose
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.