intelligence

noun

in·​tel·​li·​gence in-ˈte-lə-jən(t)s How to pronounce intelligence (audio)
1
a(1)
: the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations : reason
also : the skilled use of reason
(2)
: the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (such as tests)
b
: mental acuteness : shrewdness
c
Christian Science : the basic eternal quality of divine Mind
2
b
: information concerning an enemy or possible enemy or an area
also : an agency engaged in obtaining such information
3
: the act of understanding : comprehension
4
: the ability to perform computer functions
5
a
: intelligent minds or mind
cosmic intelligence
b
: an intelligent entity
especially : angel

Examples of intelligence in a Sentence

She impressed us with her superior intelligence. a person of average intelligence gathering intelligence about a neighboring country's activities
Recent Examples on the Web At the time, Musk had responded to an X user who speculated that the intelligence of United Airlines pilots who attend historically Black colleges and universities is lower than that of Air Force pilots. Ruth Umoh, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024 Spectrum has had a long coverage of the history of electronic intelligence spying. Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 20 Mar. 2024 Born to a wealthy family, Mellon was educated at Yale and worked for the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee for decades before transitioning into the intelligence community. Lucas Ropek / Gizmodo, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 That means ByteDance is legally bound to help with gathering intelligence. Laura He, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Using actionable intelligence for wildfire management, the company seeks to improve wildfire response times, impacting whether a minor flare-up becomes a raging inferno. Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 The Israeli military last raided Al-Shifa Hospital in November after claiming that Hamas maintained an elaborate command center inside and beneath the facility, which was later confirmed by a US intelligence report released in January. Landon Mion, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024 These states appear concerned and even alarmed about reports of U.S. intelligence activity in Afghanistan. Asfandyar Mir, Foreign Affairs, 14 Mar. 2024 In the British teen dramedy Boarders, five Black students of great intelligence, but modest means, are given scholarships to the elite private school St. Gilbert’s. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intelligence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin intelligentia, from intelligent-, intelligens intelligent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of intelligence was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near intelligence

Cite this Entry

“Intelligence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intelligence. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

intelligence

noun
in·​tel·​li·​gence in-ˈtel-ə-jən(t)s How to pronounce intelligence (audio)
1
: the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems : reason
2
b
: information concerning an enemy or possible enemy
also : an agency engaged in obtaining such information

Medical Definition

intelligence

noun
in·​tel·​li·​gence in-ˈtel-ə-jən(t)s How to pronounce intelligence (audio)
1
a
: the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations
b
: the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as tests)
2
: mental acuteness
intelligent adjective
intelligently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on intelligence

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