DictionaryAI

creative

USkree-AY-tiv/kɹiˈeɪtɪv/

Noun pluralcreatives

6 meanings of creative

Practice

  1. 1
    imaginativeadjective
    Able to think of new ideas or make new things, or showing this ability.

    Like an artist who keeps thinking of fresh ideas.

    She has a creative mind and loves making up new games.

    His drawings are very creative and full of color.

    UsageYou can be creative with something, like creative with leftovers.

    Note
  2. 2
    advertising workernouncountable
    A person whose job is making art, writing, designs, or advertising.

    She is a creative at a big advertising firm.

    The creatives on the team came up with the new slogan.

    UsagePeople say she works as a creative; more than one are creatives.

    Note
  3. 3
    ad artworknouncountable or uncountable
    Pictures, drawings, videos, and other art made for use in advertising.

    The creative on the new bus ads uses bright colors and big letters.

    The shop tried two kinds of creative online to see which one got more clicks.

    UsageSay the creative for an ad; the person who makes it is a creative.

    Similarartwork

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    deceptiveadjective
    Done in a tricky way meant to fool people, often while looking honest.

    Like dressing up a lie to make it look like the truth.

    The company used creative accounting to hide its losses.

    His creative excuse about the missing money fooled no one.

    UsageMost often in creative accounting: tricks with money records.

    Similarmisleading, deceptive, fraudulent

    Oppositehonest

    Note
  2. 5
    adjective
    Used politely or ironically about art or design to mean it is bad, messy or too busy.
  3. 6
    adjective
    In math, used for a special kind of whole-number set studied in logic.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of creative apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from a Latin word meaning "to create." It is made from "create" plus "-ive."

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 3 facts