intellectual

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

Updated on: 23 May 2018

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

Another first-time United Way recipient is Bancroft, of Cherry Hill, which received $30,000 annually for three years to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities obtain employment.

— harold brubaker, Philly.com, "United Way announces first grants with new focus on fighting intergenerational poverty," 16 May 2018
The program, which began at Lincoln-Way Central this school year, builds one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities through school and community friendship programs.

— staff report, Daily Southtown, "Community news: Lincoln-Way Central Best Buddies program lauded at state level," 10 May 2018
The Arc of Indiana works to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities participate fully in their communities.

— arika herron, Indianapolis Star, "Teen with autism gains life skills, independence through work program," 30 Apr. 2018
They are now taught in the academy how best to interact with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and a program created in Saylor’s memory teaches people with disabilities to serve as educators in law enforcement training.

— theresa vargas, Washington Post, "Settlement reached in police-custody death of man with Down syndrome," 24 Apr. 2018
The event will offer families who have children with autism, intellectual or developmental disabilities a chance to practice entering the airport, get boarding passes, go through security, and board the plane.

— maria clark, NOLA.com, "New Orleans airport hosts travel rehearsal for families with children with disabilities," 20 Apr. 2018
Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen are in Qatar as Global Ambassadors for Best Buddies, which works with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

— charles curtis, For The Win, "Tom Brady and Gisele are in Qatar riding camels," 17 Apr. 2018
Join The Arts of Life, a creative arts nonprofit that supports artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities, for an Oscars watch party and fundraiser at Tapster in Wicker Park.

— sadé carpenter, RedEye Chicago, "5 Oscars watch parties in Chicago," 2 Mar. 2018
Suddenly, looking critically at stories that forecast our impending doom at the hands of technology or capitalism or white supremacy became more of an exercise in miserable self-flagellation than of actual intellectual or moral analysis.

— laura hudson, The Verge, "Is The Handmaid’s Tale still worth the agony of watching it?," 27 Apr. 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

Since September, authorities have arrested dozens of clerics, intellectuals, businessmen and activists from across the political spectrum, tightening the once relatively permissive public discourse in the authoritarian kingdom.

— glen carey, Bloomberg.com, "Saudi Crackdown Is a ‘Chilling Smear Campaign,’ Rights Group Says," 20 May 2018
In part to give Agensi the best education possible, her father invited leading intellectuals of the day to the family’s home, where his daughter’s gifts shone.

— richard gunderman, Scientific American, "Maria Agnesi, the Greatest Female Mathematician You’ve Never Heard Of," 16 May 2018
And a vast number of France’s major influencers, including journalists, intellectuals, philosophers, and politicians, are former May '68 activists.

— colette davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, "As strikes rage in France today, the legacy of May '68 looms large," 11 May 2018
The critic Lionel Trilling argued that the book is about who will inherit England: intellectuals, workers, or businessmen.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "The Inheritance and the Ambitions of Queer Art," 18 Apr. 2018
But American Muslims say Aslan remains influential as a writer, Hollywood producer and public intellectual.

— daniel burke, CNN, "Hear from some of America's most influential Muslims," 4 May 2018
The story’s skewering of Neapolitan intellectuals caused such an outrage that Ortese had to leave the city.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "Briefly Noted," 30 Apr. 2018
More interesting is the historical context Mr Sand gives to the role of the French public intellectual, the man of letters who is at once literary and engagé.

— The Economist, "The death—or reinvention—of the French intellectual," 28 Apr. 2018
In the early 20th century, a loose collective of bohemian English writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists, including Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes and E.M. Forster, lived, worked and studied together there.

— brian melton, star-telegram, "As London gears up for royal wedding, a look at three villages that helped define it | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 20 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of intellectual

1599

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

intellectual Synonyms

Synonyms

egghead, geek, highbrow, longhair, nerd;

Antonyms

anti-intellectual, lowbrow, philistine;

Near Antonyms

blockhead, dolt, dope, dumbbell, dummy, dunce, fathead, half-wit, imbecile, moron, nitwit, pinhead, simpleton;

Related Words

bluestocking;

Brahmin, mandarin, sage;

brain, genius, intellect, thinker, whiz, wizard;

INTELLECTUAL Defined for English Language Learners

intellectual

adjective

Definition of intellectual for English Language Learners

: of or relating to the ability to think in a logical way
: involving serious study and thought
of a person : smart and enjoying serious study and thought

intellectual

noun

Definition of intellectual for English Language Learners

: a smart person who enjoys serious study and thought : an intellectual person

INTELLECTUAL Defined for Kids

intellectual

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

Definition of intellectual for Students

1 : of or relating to thought or understanding

intellectual development

2 : interested in serious study and thought

an intellectual person

3 : requiring study and thought

an intellectual challenge

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intellectually

\-wə-lē\ adverb

intellectual

noun

Definition of intellectual for Students

: a person who takes pleasure in serious study and thought

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intellectual

Definition of intellectual

intellectuality

intellectually

intellectualness

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First Known Use of intellectual

intellectual Synonyms

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Other Psychology Terms

intellectual

Definition of intellectual

Examples of intellectual in a Sentence

Recent Examples of intellectual from the Web

First Known Use of intellectual

intellectual Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to INTELLECTUAL

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INTELLECTUAL Defined for English Language Learners

intellectual

Definition of intellectual for English Language Learners

intellectual

Definition of intellectual for English Language Learners

INTELLECTUAL Defined for Kids

intellectual

Definition of intellectual for Students

intellectually

intellectual

Definition of intellectual for Students

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