Today's Word

Kludgenius

[KLUJ-een-yus]

Definition

(noun) Someone who has an uncanny ability to create makeshift solutions to problems using unconventional or seemingly unsuitable materials at hand. It’s a person who can ingeniously cobble together functional fixes or inventions, often in a way that seems both clever and slightly absurd.

Example

When the office printer broke down before a big presentation, Sarah proved to be a true kludgenius by rigging up a working replacement using an old scanner, some duct tape, and a Raspberry Pi.

Fun Fact

The term “kludgenius” combines “kludge” (a haphazard or makeshift solution) with “genius.” This concept relates to the psychological trait of divergent thinking, a key component of creativity. Research in cognitive science has shown that individuals who excel at improvised problem-solving often score highly on tests of divergent thinking. A study in the “Creativity Research Journal” found that exposure to unconventional problem-solving scenarios can actually enhance one’s ability to think creatively in other contexts.