intellectual

adjective in·tel·lec·tu·al \ ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wəl , -chəl , -shwəl , -chü(-ə)l \

|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Examples: intellectual in a Sentence

Definition of intellectual

1 a : of or relating to the intellect or its use

b : developed or chiefly guided by the intellect rather than by emotion or experience : rational

c : requiring use of the intellect

intellectual games

2 a : given to study, reflection, and speculation

b : engaged in activity requiring the creative use of the intellect

intellectual playwrights

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intellectuality

play \ˌin-tə-ˌlek-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē\ noun

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intellectually

play \ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wə-lē, -chə-lē, -shwə-lē, -chü(-ə)-lē\ adverb

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intellectualness

play \ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wəl-nəs, -chəl-, -shwəl-, -chü(-ə)l-\ noun

See intellectual defined for English-language learners

See intellectual defined for kids

Examples of intellectual in a Sentence

the social and intellectual life of the campus
as the daughter of college professors, she's used to being around intellectual people

Recent Examples of intellectual from the Web

Despite debate and opposition, not everyone's attacking Kavanaugh as a biased jurist, or one without academic, intellectual, or personal qualifications for the job.

— celeste katz, Glamour, "Here's Where Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Stands on Key Women's Issues," 11 July 2018
Nominated to replace the court's key swing vote, Kavanaugh is considered a intellectual powerhouse with a clear conservative judicial philosophy and a lengthy record.

— jan crawford, CBS News, "Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh starts making the rounds on Capitol Hill," 10 July 2018
The English Revolution was a time when spiritual, intellectual, and rhetorical foment began to wildly accelerate towards anarchy.

— franklin foer, The Atlantic, "The Death of the Public Square," 6 July 2018
With that in mind, the entire company culture became infused with independence, intellectual honesty and accountability.

— jessica levy, Cincinnati.com, "Truepoint Wealth Counsel prices peace of mind to employees and clients alike," 8 June 2018
That shows them not just the intellectual, but the fun part of it.

— alexandra lange, Curbed, "Young adult architecture," 24 May 2018
The Nicolas Maxim Award is given to students with a cognitive delay or some sort of intellectual, physical or developmental disability.

— natalie dreier, ajc, "Student born without hands wins handwriting award," 10 May 2018
Over time, the program has grown to incorporate interactive concerts, ballet performances and even a ‘cultural jazz band exchange’ as opportunities to foster intellectual, social, creative and emotional growth.

— nicole miller-coleman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "The Mighty Mini: Exhibit of Tiny Artworks Designed to Open Doors to K-12 Art Education," 31 Mar. 2018
Vienna is well known for its centuries-old history as the epicenter of European intellectual life, home to a long list of monumental figures, from Mozart to Freud to Hayek.

— sebastian modak, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Cities for Expats," 21 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intellectual.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of intellectual

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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intellectual Synonyms

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

intellectual

noun

Definition of intellectual

1 intellectuals plural, archaic : intellectual powers

2 : an intellectual person

See intellectual defined for English-language learners

Examples of intellectual in a Sentence

He thinks that he's an intellectual, but he doesn't know what he's talking about.
She's a hard worker but she's no great intellectual.
a café where artists and intellectuals mingle

Recent Examples of intellectual from the Web

Amnesty's Hadid said women's activism is widely seen as part of a wider push for democratic and civil rights in Saudi Arabia, and pointed out the recent crackdown followed last year's sweep of reforming clerics and intellectuals.

— NBC News, "First Saudi women get driver's licenses amid crackdown on activists," 5 June 2018
Meanwhile, he's faced vociferous protests from women, students and intellectuals -- three groups that also opposed LBJ.

— brandon griggs, CNN, "The most turbulent time in modern American history (it's not now)," 18 May 2018
In 1928, a group of intellectuals asked authorities for permission to set up plaques — some of which are still visible — often with just the original names of the thoroughfare.

— maria teresa hernandez, Fox News, "Reminders of centuries past emerge along Mexico City streets," 26 Mar. 2018
Her fiction and nonfiction alike have found a home in the hearts of American intellectuals like Barack Obama as well on best-seller lists.

— sarah begley, Time, "Marilynne Robinson on What It Means to Be a Christian in Trump's America," 1 Mar. 2018
So huzzah for the power of ideas and a work actually willing to confront the liberal intellectuals in the seats.

— chris jones, chicagotribune.com, "'The Originalist' at Court Theatre has a tricky job in portraying Antonin Scalia," 21 May 2018
As a flawed and scandal-ridden president, Trump is dividing conservative intellectuals in the same ways Richard Nixon did during Watergate.

— jeet heer, New Republic, "The Lively Irrelevance of Conservative Magazines," 30 Jan. 2018
Plaza insisted that Lenny's original, somewhat gendered dialogue—smarmy, crass, with a barstool intellectual's love of old-timey vocab—be kept in tact.

— nojan aminosharei, Marie Claire, "Aubrey Plaza Was Never April Ludgate," 13 June 2018
Laura Huxley, who died in 2007 at 96, often used the house as a salon for intellectuals and free thinkers.

— lauren beale, latimes.com, "It's a brave new world for the former Aldous Huxley estate," 11 June 2018