Intelligence — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /in-ˈte-lə-jən(t)s/ in·tel·li·gence

Meaning & Definition of Intelligence

Intelligence (noun)

  1. the ability to learn or understand things or to deal with new or difficult situations, reason
  2. mental acuteness, cleverness
  3. comprehension, knowledge

Intelligence (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems

    "high scores on this test supposedly demonstrate great intelligence"

    similar: brain(s), brainpower, gray matter, headpiece, intellect, intellectuality, mentality, reason, sense, smarts
    related: eggheadedness, highbrowism, intellectualism, braininess, brilliance, acumen, alertness, apprehension, astuteness, discernment, discriminability, insight, judgment, perception, percipience, perspicacity, common sense, horse sense, mother wit, aptitude, talent, sagacity, sapience, wisdom, wit, head, mind, skull
    near: denseness, density, doltishness, dopiness, dullness, dumbness, fatuity, feeblemindedness, foolishness, half-wittedness, idiocy, imbecility, senselessness, simpleness, slowness, stupidity

  2. a report of recent events or facts not previously known

    "usually received the latest intelligence about how the war was going"

    similar: 411 (slang), advice(s), gen (chiefly British), info, information, item, news, story, tidings, uncos (chiefly Scottish), word
    related: announcement, bulletin, communication, correspondence, dispatch, message, reportage, dope, lowdown, scoop, tidbit, tip, gossip, rumor, tale, tattle, feedback, disinformation, propaganda

  3. exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters

    "as head of the customer service department, he has handled complaints and disputes with unfailing intelligence and good humor"

    similar: acumen, astuteness, caginess, canniness, clear-sightedness, foxiness, hardheadedness, keenness, knowingness, sharpness, shrewdness, wit
    related: discernment, insight, perception, perceptiveness, perceptivity, percipience, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sapience, wisdom, artfulness, artifice, craft, craftiness, cunning, deviousness, guile, slickness, slyness, sneakiness, subtleness, subtlety, wiliness, brain(s), gray matter, intellect, reason, sense
    near: artlessness, greenness, guilelessness, ingenuousness, innocence, naiveness, naïveté, simplemindedness, simpleness, simplicity, unsophistication, unworldliness, brainlessness, density, doltishness, dopiness, dumbness, fatuity, foolishness, half-wittedness, mindlessness, oafishness, obtuseness, senselessness, slowness, stupidity, stupidness, vacuity, witlessness

Related Entry: Intelligence test (noun)

Intelligence test is a different word from Intelligence. The synonyms below are for intelligence test, not for intelligence.

  1. as in aptitude test, placement test

    similar: aptitude test, placement test, exam, examination, quiz, test, pretest, retest, board(s), midterm, midyear, catechism, audition, final, checkup, inspection, review, inquiry, interrogation, investigation, probe, research

Related Entry: Intelligence tests (noun)

Intelligence tests is a different word from Intelligence. The synonyms below are for intelligence tests, not for intelligence.

  1. as in aptitude tests, placement tests

    similar: aptitude tests, placement tests, examinations, exams, quizzes, tests, pretests, retests, boards, midterms, midyears, catechisms, auditions, finals, checkups, inspections, reviews, inquiries, interrogations, investigations, probes, researches

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Intelligence

The most common words with a similar meaning to Intelligence:

Slang: 411
Chiefly British: gen
Chiefly Scottish: uncos
brain(s), brainpower, gray matter, headpiece, intellect, intellectuality, mentality, reason, sense, smarts, advice(s), info, information, item, news, story, tidings, word, acumen, astuteness, caginess, canniness, clear-sightedness, foxiness, hardheadedness, keenness, knowingness, sharpness, shrewdness, wit

Related Words for Intelligence

eggheadedness, highbrowism, intellectualism, braininess, brilliance, alertness, apprehension, discernment, discriminability, insight, judgment, perception, percipience, perspicacity, common sense, horse sense, mother wit, aptitude, talent, sagacity, sapience, wisdom, head, mind, skull, announcement, bulletin, communication, correspondence, dispatch

Near Antonyms of Intelligence

denseness, density, doltishness, dopiness, dullness, dumbness, fatuity, feeblemindedness, foolishness, half-wittedness, idiocy, imbecility, senselessness, simpleness, slowness, stupidity, artlessness, greenness, guilelessness, ingenuousness, innocence, naiveness, naïveté, simplemindedness, simplicity, unsophistication, unworldliness, brainlessness, mindlessness, oafishness

Origin & Etymology of Intelligence

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin intelligentia, from intelligent-, intelligens intelligent

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Intelligence

Words & Phrases Containing Intelligence

intelligence quotient, intelligence test, artificial general intelligence, artificial intelligence, emotional intelligence, insult someone's intelligence

Frequently Asked Questions about Intelligence

What does "Intelligence" mean?

"Intelligence" means the ability to learn or understand things or to deal with new or difficult situations, reason. As a noun, it is defined as: the ability to learn or understand things or to deal with new or difficult situations, reason. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Intelligence"?

Other words for "Intelligence" include brain(s), brainpower, gray matter, headpiece, intellect, intellectuality, mentality and reason. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Intelligence" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Intelligence"?

There are 94 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Intelligence". Common alternatives include brain(s), brainpower, gray matter, headpiece, intellect, intellectuality, mentality, reason, sense and smarts.

How do you use "Intelligence" in a sentence?

Examples of "Intelligence" in a sentence: "high scores on this test supposedly demonstrate great intelligence"; "usually received the latest intelligence about how the war was going"; "as head of the customer service department, he has handled complaints and disputes with unfailing intelligence and good humor".

Is "Intelligence" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Intelligence" is a noun.

Is "Intelligence" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Intelligence" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Intelligence"?

"Intelligence" is pronounced /in-ˈte-lə-jən(t)s/ and divided into syllables as in·tel·li·gence.

What is the origin of the word "Intelligence"?

"Intelligence" comes from Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin intelligentia, from intelligent-, intelligens intelligent. First known use: 14th century.