emotional intelligence

noun

: the ability to recognize, understand, and deal skillfully with one's own emotions and the emotions of others (as by regulating one's emotions or by showing empathy and good judgment in social interactions)

A large part of emotional intelligence is being able to think about and empathize with how other people are feeling. This often involves considering how you would respond if you were in the same situation.

—Kendra Cherry

We know that young children learn to identify, explain, and regulate their emotions, but we know much less about how children learn these things. They undoubtedly acquire some of their emotional intelligence from adults–—parents, teachers, and coaches, for example.

—Lawrence T. White

… thousands of workers during the "Great Resignation" discovered a new road map to success: being able to recognize and walk away from abusive situations. … Empathy, respectfulness and emotional intelligence are hallmarks of leaders for whom people enjoy working.

—Karla L. Miller

—abbreviation EI

called also emotional quotient

Examples of emotional intelligence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Skills that need a deep understanding of how people work and why, like communication, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking, are irreplaceable in the workplace. —Ethan Stone, Ascend Agency, 29 Oct. 2025

The intention of the survey, Hoffman says, is to pair people with those of similar emotional intelligence and spiritual attunement. —Charles Trepany, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025

At the event, Vonn takes pictures with a group of former scholarship recipients who now serve as youth ambassadors; in that role, these young women talk to adolescent girls about subjects like self-confidence, body image, and emotional intelligence. —Sean Gregory, Time, 27 Oct. 2025

These are the essential components, the authors go on, of emotional intelligence. —Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for emotional intelligence

• counterintelligence