word

Lateral Thinking

LAT-er-ul THINK-ing

/ˈlætərəl ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/

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Syllable breakdown

lateralthinking

Dictionary meaning

A problem-solving approach, coined by Edward de Bono, that involves approaching challenges from unexpected, indirect, or creative angles rather than following conventional step-by-step logic; it disrupts habitual patterns of thinking to generate novel solutions.

Examples

The engineer applied lateral thinking to solve the production bottleneck by inverting the assembly process.
Lateral thinking puzzles are used in training to help teams break out of conventional problem-solving patterns.

Synonyms: creative thinking, outside-the-box thinking, non-linear thinking

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