Imagination

//ɪˌmæd͡ʒəˈneɪʃən// noun

noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The image-making power of the mind; the act of mentally creating or reproducing an object not previously perceived; the ability to create such images. countable, uncountable

    "Imagination is one of the most advanced human faculties."

  2. 2
    the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses wordnet
  3. 3
    Particularly, construction of false images; fantasizing. countable, uncountable

    "You think someone's been following you? That's just your imagination."

  4. 4
    the ability to deal resourcefully with unusual problems wordnet
  5. 5
    Creativity; resourcefulness. countable, uncountable

    "His imagination makes him a valuable team member."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    the ability to form mental images of things or events wordnet
  2. 7
    A mental image formed by the action of the imagination as a faculty; something imagined. countable, uncountable

    "It is a pleasant imagination to conceive a spirit iustly ballanced betweene two equall desires."

Synonyms

All synonyms
creativityimaginativenessapparitionbrainbrainchildbubble

Antonyms

All antonyms
real

Example

More examples

"Imagination affects every aspect of our lives."

Etymology

From Middle English ymaginacioun, from Old French imaginacion, ymaginacion, from Latin imāginātiō. Equivalent to imagine + -ation.

Related phrases

by any stretch of the imaginationby no stretch of imaginationby no stretch of the imaginationfigment of one's imaginationleave little to the imaginationleave nothing to the imaginationleave to the imaginationbrain thoughcreative thoughtdream creatorin headmake up

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.