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

He criticises society's tendency to devalue complex ideas and how this is part of a general decline in mental and intellectual effort.

From BBC

The culture took shape in the 1900s when Indian Coffee Houses emerged as a hangout spot for the intellectual and elite class.

From BBC

My labels are demisexual and sapiosexual, or some combination of the two, which makes being attracted to someone when there is no intellectual or emotional spark improbable, if not impossible.

From Los Angeles Times

It will be a day of harrowing stories, intellectual argument and passionate exchanges.

From BBC

By breaking down silos between fields and fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity that spans multiple domains, innovative solutions can be identified to complex global challenges like climate change.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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