Intelligent - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT intelligent /ɪnˈtɛlədʒənt/ /ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒɛnt/ IPA guide

Humans? Intelligent! Potted plants? Not so much. Intelligent means smart, or having the ability to process and understand information (including dictionary definitions).

Intelligent comes from a Latin word meaning "to understand, to gather," and intelligent creatures gather and make sense of information easily. Intelligent also refers to the ability to think. Intelligent objects, like speakers or software, seem to think in the way they react to change. If we’re looking for intelligent life on Mars, we want Martians who can reason. Intelligent also means showing good judgement, like an intelligent decision not to invite all those Martians to your birthday party.

Definitions of intelligent

adjective having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree “is there intelligent life in the universe?” “an intelligent question” synonyms: smart showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness agile, nimble mentally quick apt, clever mentally quick and resourceful brainy, brilliant, genius, smart as a whip having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence bright, smart characterized by quickness and ease in learning born, innate, natural being talented through inherited qualities quick, ready apprehending and responding with speed and sensitivity prehensile having a keen intellect scintillating brilliantly clever searching, trenchant having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought, expression, or intellect precocious characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude) see moresee less antonyms: unintelligent lacking intelligence stupid lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity brainless, headless not using intelligence show more antonyms...
adjective exercising or showing good judgment “an intelligent solution” synonyms: healthy, level-headed, levelheaded, sound reasonable, sensible showing reason or sound judgment
adjective endowed with the capacity to reason synonyms: reasoning, thinking rational consistent with or based on or using reason
adjective possessing sound knowledge synonyms: well-informed sophisticated having or appealing to those having worldly knowledge and refinement and savoir-faire

Pronunciation US /ɪnˈtɛlədʒənt/ UK /ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒɛnt/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘intelligent'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family

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