intellectual

1 of 3

adjective

in·​tel·​lec·​tu·​al ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wəl 

-chəl, 

-shwəl, 

-chü(-ə)l

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

intellectuality

ˌin-tə-ˌlek-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

noun

intellectually

ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wə-lē 

-chə-lē, 

-shwə-lē, 

-chü(-ə)-lē

adverb

intellectualness

ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wəl-nəs 

-chəl-, 

-shwəl-, 

-chü(-ə)l-

noun

intellectual

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: an intellectual person

2

intellectuals plural, archaic : intellectual powers

intellectuality

3 of 3

noun (2)

in·​tel·​lec·​tu·​al·​i·​ty ˌintᵊlˌekchəˈwalətē 

-ksh-, 

-lətē, 

-i

plural -es

: intellectual power : the quality or state of being intellectual

Synonyms of intellectual

Adjective

• cerebral
• academic
• scholarly
• intellectualistic
• highbrow
• intellectualist

Noun (1)

• nerd
• highbrow
• intellectualist
• geek

Examples of intellectual in a Sentence

Adjective

the social and intellectual life of the campus

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

Noun (1)

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 on the Web

Adjective

The vote margin not only will reveal the extent of the intellectual divide on the committee between those who think inflation is temporary and those who believe price pressures are becoming entrenched. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Both were eras of political fragmentation, and the centuries between 770 and 221 bce produced many of the foundational texts of Chinese philosophy and some of the most prominent figures in Chinese intellectual history. — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026

Noun

Townshend was a Mod who grew up into a rock intellectual who still talked like a bloke. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Unlike many from evangelical churches, John Calvin was a hardcore intellectual. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Late Latin intellectualitat-, intellectualitas, from Latin intellectualis intellectual + -itat-, -itas -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (1)

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing intellectual

• anti-intellectual
• hyper-intellectual
• intellectual disability
• intellectual freedom
• intellectual property
• pseudo-intellectual

Rhymes for intellectual

• aspectual
• effectual
• ineffectual

Kids Definition

intellectual

1 of 2 adjective

in·​tel·​lec·​tu·​al ˌint-ᵊl-ˈek-ch(ə-w)əl 

1

: relating to the intellect or understanding

2

: having intellect to a high degree : engaged in or given to learning and thinking

an intellectual person

3

: requiring study and thought

intellectual games

intellectuality

-ˌek-chə-ˈwal-ət-ē 

noun

intellectually

-ˈek-chə-(wə-)lē 

adverb

intellectual

2 of 2 noun

: an intellectual person