genius

[ jeen-yuhs ]

noun

, plural gen·ius·es gen·i·i [jee, -nee-ahy]

1. an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work in science, art, music, etc.:

   the genius of Mozart.

   Synonyms: wit, ingenuity, intelligence

2. a person having such capacity.
3. a person having an extraordinarily high intelligence rating on a psychological test, as an IQ above 140.

   Synonyms: brainiac, brain, whiz, expert, master

   Antonyms: dope, half-wit, imbecile, idiot, ninny, nitwit, blockhead, numbskull, dolt, dullard, dunce, simpleton, fool, moron

4. natural ability or capacity; strong inclination:

   a special genius for leadership.

   Synonyms: flair, bent, knack, penchant, predilection, endowment, faculty, aptitude, talent, gift, wizardry

5. distinctive character or spirit, as of a nation, period, or language.
6. the guardian spirit of a place, institution, etc.
7. either of two mutually opposed spirits, one good and the other evil, supposed to attend a person throughout life.
8. a person who strongly influences for good or ill the character, conduct, or destiny of a person, place, or thing:

   Rasputin, the evil genius of Russian politics.

9. Islamic Mythology. jinn; genie.
10. genie ( def 3 ).

genius

/ ˈdʒiːnɪəs; -njəs /

noun

1. a person with exceptional ability, esp of a highly original kind
2. such ability or capacity

   Mozart's musical genius

3. the distinctive spirit or creative nature of a nation, era, language, etc
4. a person considered as exerting great influence of a certain sort

   an evil genius

5. Roman myth
   1. the guiding spirit who attends a person from birth to death
   2. the guardian spirit of a place, group of people, or institution
6. Arabian myth usually plural a demon; jinn

Word History and Origins

Origin of genius¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin: “tutelary deity or genius of a person”; genus

Word History and Origins

Origin of genius¹

C16: from Latin, from gignere to beget

Example Sentences

It’s a display of raw power and unchecked impulses, forcing senators in his own party to either praise their leader’s genius or risk his wrath on social media.

From Salon

The worthy effort to emphasize that much of the artist’s inventive genius — unfurling in thousands of manuscript pages, rather than oil paint and tempera — makes the dull staging a perhaps unavoidable conceit.

From Los Angeles Times

That is the genius of boxing promotion, the understanding that people will pay to watch the downfall of the other.

From Salon

Mr. Turing, a math genius and secret hero of World War II, was mistreated by England near the end of his life.

From NewsForKids.net

It put England on the way to triumph, confirmed late on by a second goal when Jude Bellingham's shot bounced in off Greece keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, then a flash of genius from debutant Curtis Jones.

From BBC

Related Words

• ability
• accomplishment
• acumen
• aptitude
• brilliance
• flair
• imagination
• ingenuity
• inspiration
• intelligence
• inventiveness
• originality
• prodigy
• prowess
• talent
• wisdom

What Is The Plural Of Genius?

Plural word for genius

The plural form of genius can be either geniuses or genii, pronounced [ jee-nee-ahy ], depending on the intended meaning of the word. Geniuses is much more commonly used. The plural forms of several other singular words that end in -us are also formed in this way, such as virus/viruses, callus/calluses, and status/statuses. 

Irregular plurals that are formed like genii, such as radius/radii or cactus/cacti, derive directly from their original pluralization in Latin. However, the standard English plural -es is often also acceptable for these terms, as in radiuses and cactuses.