intelligent

[ in-tel-i-juhnt ]

adjective

1. having good understanding or a high mental capacity; quick to comprehend, as persons or animals:

   an intelligent student.

   Synonyms: bright

   Antonyms: stupid

2. displaying or characterized by quickness of understanding, sound thought, or good judgment:

   an intelligent reply.

   Synonyms: smart, shrewd, discerning, apt, bright, alert, clever, astute

   Antonyms: stupid

3. having the faculty of reasoning and understanding; possessing intelligence:

   intelligent beings in outer space.

4. Computers. pertaining to the ability to do data processing locally; smart: Compare dumb ( def 8 ).

   An intelligent terminal can edit input before transmission to a host computer.

5. Archaic. having understanding or knowledge (usually followed by of ).

intelligent

/ ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒənt /

adjective

1. having or indicating intelligence
2. having high intelligence; clever
3. indicating high intelligence; perceptive

   an intelligent guess

4. guided by reason; rational
5. (of computerized functions) able to modify action in the light of ongoing events
6. archaic.
   postpositivefoll byof having knowledge or information

   they were intelligent of his whereabouts

Derived Forms

• inˈtelligently, adverb

Other Words From

• in·telli·gent·ly adverb
• hyper·in·telli·gent adjective
• hyper·in·telli·gent·ly adverb
• nonin·telli·gent adjective
• nonin·telli·gent·ly adverb
• prein·telli·gent adjective
• prein·telli·gent·ly adverb
• quasi-in·telli·gent adjective
• quasi-in·telli·gent·ly adverb
• semi-in·telli·gent adjective
• semi-in·telli·gent·ly adverb
• super·in·telli·gent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intelligent¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin intelligent- (stem of intelligēns, present participle of intelligere, variant of intellegere “to understand,” literally, “choose between),” equivalent to intel- (variant of inter- inter- ) + -lig- (combining form of leg-, stem of legere “to pick up, choose”; lection ) + -ent- -ent

Synonym Study

Intelligent, intellectual describe distinctive mental capacity. Intelligent often suggests a natural quickness of understanding: an intelligent reader. Intellectual implies not only having a high degree of understanding, but also a capacity and taste for the higher forms of knowledge: intellectual interests. See sharp.

Example Sentences

“Do we leave it to individuals to decide that they are the intelligent ones who should have more kids?” he asked.

From Salon

“More troublesome, what about the less intelligent, who logically should have less?”

From Salon

In too many ways, they appear locked in an echo chamber, largely talking to each other and convincing themselves that all intelligent and rational people agree with them.

From Salon

Speaking to the BBC, Irina and Arseny’s teachers painted a picture of a highly intelligent and politically engaged young man who now faces several long years in jail for a crime he did not commit.

From BBC

She was described as an "intelligent, cautious girl" who would not have gone off with a stranger.

From BBC

Related Words

• astute
• brainy
• bright
• brilliant
• creative
• imaginative
• inventive
• knowledgeable
• original
• perceptive
• rational
• resourceful
• smart
• well-informed
• wise