ingenuity

UK: /ˌɪndʒəˈnjuːɪti/

US: /ˌɪndʒəˈnuɪti, -ˈnju-/

US: (in′jə no̅o̅′i tē, -nyo̅o̅′-)

Inflections of 'ingenuity' (n): npl: ingenuities

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•ge•nu•i•ty /ˌɪndʒəˈnuɪti, -ˈnyu-/   n. [uncountable]

1. the quality of being ingenious:
   a device of great ingenuity.

See -gen-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•ge•nu•i•ty  (in′jə no̅o̅′i tē, -nyo̅o̅′-), n., pl. -ties for 3.

1. the quality of being cleverly inventive or resourceful;
   inventiveness:
   a designer of great ingenuity.
2. cleverness or skillfulness of conception or design:
   a device of great ingenuity.
3. an ingenious contrivance or device.
4. [Obs.] ingenuousness.

• Latin ingenuitās innate virtue, etc. (see ingenuous, -ity); current senses by association with ingenious
• 1590–1600

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ingenuity / ˌɪndʒɪˈnjuːɪtɪ/ noun ( -ties)

1. inventive talent; cleverness
2. an ingenious device, act, etc
3. frankness; candour

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin ingenuitās a freeborn condition, outlook consistent with such a condition, from ingenuus native, freeborn (see ingenuous); meaning influenced by ingenious