ingenious
UK: ɪnˈdʒiː.ni.əs | US: ɪnˈdʒiː.ni.əs
adj. clever, inventive, or resourceful in design or execution
adj. marked by originality and creativity
ingenious = in<in> + gen<birth, creation> + ious<adjective suffix>
- in (Latin: "in," indicating inward or inherent quality)
- gen (Latin: "gignere," meaning "to beget, produce"; root of "generate," "genius")
- ious (adjective-forming suffix denoting "full of" or "having the quality of")
Etymology Origin:
The word "ingenious" traces back to Latin ingenium (innate talent, cleverness), combining in- (inward) + gen- (create). It originally described natural intellect or inventive capacity, later narrowing to emphasize creative problem-solving. The morpheme gen appears in related words like "genius" (exceptional intellect) and "generate" (to produce), reflecting a shared root in the concept of creation.
The engineer devised an ingenious solution to reduce energy waste.
Her ingenious use of recycled materials impressed the judges.
The plot twist was so ingenious that no one predicted it.
He crafted an ingenious gadget from everyday household items.
The app’s design is both simple and ingenious.