Intelligent Definition & Meaning

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    • Synonyms intelligent American [in-tel-i-juhnt] / ɪnˈtɛl ɪ dʒənt /

    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.

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

    5. Archaic. having understanding or knowledge (usually followed byof ).

    intelligent British / 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 having knowledge or information

      they were intelligent of his whereabouts

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    Related Words

    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.

    Other Word Forms

    • hyperintelligent adjective
    • hyperintelligently adverb
    • intelligently adverb
    • nonintelligent adjective
    • nonintelligently adverb
    • preintelligent adjective
    • preintelligently adverb
    • quasi-intelligent adjective
    • quasi-intelligently adverb
    • semi-intelligent adjective
    • semi-intelligently adverb
    • superintelligent adjective

    Etymology

    Origin of intelligent

    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

    Example Sentences

    Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

    Why it’s vital: Never underestimate the power of seeing an intelligent, moral character triumph in the face of overwhelming challenges brought on by diabolical forces.

    From Salon

    The band released a statement on social media remembering him as a "visionary" and a "kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend".

    From BBC

    “And that also happens naturally, because of the organic, natural transition from just smart automation to highly intelligent automation.”

    From Los Angeles Times

    It may also help bridge neuroscience with the development of bio inspired and physically intelligent materials, offering new ways to design systems that mimic the electrical behavior of living tissue.

    From Science Daily

    Players... when I arrived at Monaco, I was very lucky to have Joao Moutinho there - a Portuguese player that is, for me, one of the most intelligent players that's ever played for our country.

    From BBC

    Related Words

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

    Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

    Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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