intellectual

[ in-tl-ek-choo-uhl ]

adjective

1. appealing to or engaging the intellect:

   intellectual pursuits.

   Synonyms: mental

2. of or relating to the intellect or its use:

   intellectual powers.

   Synonyms: mental

3. possessing or showing intellect or mental capacity, especially to a high degree:

   an intellectual person.

4. guided or developed by or relying on the intellect rather than upon emotions or feelings; rational.
5. characterized by or suggesting a predominance of intellect:

   an intellectual way of speaking.

noun

1. a person of superior intellect.
2. a person who places a high value on or pursues things of interest to the intellect or the more complex forms and fields of knowledge, as aesthetic or philosophical matters, especially on an abstract and general level.
3. an extremely rational person; a person who relies on intellect rather than on emotions or feelings.
4. a person professionally engaged in mental labor, as a writer or teacher.
5. intellectuals, Archaic.
   1. the mental faculties.
   2. things pertaining to the intellect.

intellectual

/ ˌɪntɪˈlɛktʃʊəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the intellect, as opposed to the emotions
2. appealing to or characteristic of people with a developed intellect

   intellectual literature

3. expressing or enjoying mental activity

noun

1. a person who enjoys mental activity and has highly developed tastes in art, literature, etc
2. a person who uses or works with his intellect
3. a highly intelligent person

intellectual

1. A person who engages in academic study or critical evaluation of ideas and issues. ( See intelligentsia .)

Derived Forms

• ˌintelˌlectuˈality, noun
• ˌintelˈlectually, adverb

Other Words From

• intel·lectu·al·ly adverb
• intel·lectu·al·ness noun
• half-in·tel·lectu·al adjective
• half-in·tel·lectu·al·ly adverb
• hyper·intel·lectu·al adjective
• hyper·intel·lectu·al·ly adverb
• hyper·intel·lectu·al·ness noun
• nonin·tel·lectu·al adjective noun
• nonin·tel·lectu·al·ly adverb
• nonin·tel·lectu·al·ness noun
• over·intel·lectu·al adjective
• over·intel·lectu·al·ly adverb
• over·intel·lectu·al·ness noun
• prein·tel·lectu·al adjective
• prein·tel·lectu·al·ly adverb
• quasi-intel·lectu·al adjective
• quasi-intel·lectu·al·ly adverb
• semi-intel·lectu·al adjective noun
• semi-intel·lectu·al·ly adverb
• super·intel·lectu·al adjective noun
• super·intel·lectu·al·ly adverb
• unin·tel·lectu·al adjective
• unin·tel·lectu·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of intellectual¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin intellēctuālis, equivalent to intellēctu-, stem of intellēctus intellect + -ālis -al ¹

Synonym Study

See intelligent.

Example Sentences

All of this might have remained in the realm of intellectual exploit had Tanton not begun to formalize and evangelize his beliefs.

From Salon

Familiar intellectual property has already been tested with audiences, in the same way that films based on video games, comic books or novels have a built-in base.

From Los Angeles Times

McMahon’s ruling, based on a Supreme Court decision in an unrelated case, “could leave AI copyright claims on shaky ground,” wrote Los Angeles intellectual property lawyer Aaron Moss on his website.

From Los Angeles Times

Intermediate court rulings in these cases contradict each other and raise issues that haven’t been seen before even in high-tech intellectual property law.

From Los Angeles Times

Deliberately removing CMI with the intention of fostering copyright violations is a direct violation of the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which governs intellectual property rights of producers of digital content.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cerebral
• creative
• highbrow
• mental
• psychological
• rational
• scholarly
• thoughtful