intellectual

adjective

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

-chəl, -shwəl, -chü(-ə)l\

Definition of intellectual

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

2a : given to study, reflection, and speculation

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

intellectual

noun

Definition of intellectual (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an intellectual person

2 intellectuals plural, archaic : intellectual powers

Other Words from intellectual Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about intellectual

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Other Words from intellectual

Adjective

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

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

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 other worry was simply about the implications of such a flagrantly unfit man, so seemingly incapable of emotional, moral, or intellectual growth, holding a high office. — Matthew Yglesias, Vox, "Trump’s bizarre post-election press conference, explained," 7 Nov. 2018 In fact, the only bright spot in Piers Morgan’s social media presence is that most of his attempts at pseudo-intellectual machismo end up being spectacular self-owns. — Cady Drell, Marie Claire, "Dad Twitter Comes for Piers Morgan’s Dumb Tweet," 16 Oct. 2018 And while Gehry is the consummate intellectual, who can forget that infamous photo of him flipping the bird at a reporter? — Diana Budds, Curbed, "Based on your zodiac sign, what should your Halloween costume be?," 10 Oct. 2018 In the past, Los Angeles had developed an unfair reputation for being anti-intellectual. — Reif Larsen, The Seattle Times, "LA Reverential: A City’s Chill Spots," 1 Aug. 2018 The art world hadn’t become this sterilized, intellectual exercise. — Hope Reese, Longreads, "A Person Alone: Leaning Out with Ottessa Moshfegh," 5 July 2018 Maintaining one’s intellectual and moral standards is difficult in a political system in which one party operates without either. — Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Is Doing Same Thing He Demanded Clinton Be Locked Up For," 22 May 2018 Making the intellectual leap directly from gorillas to humans is never a wise move. — Cathleen O'grady, Ars Technica, "Gorillas that are great with kids are also luckier in love," 18 Oct. 2018 The stakes are personal and intellectual, the emotions sincere even when ringed with sarcasm. — Jim Rutter, Philly.com, "'Mrs. Harrison' at the Azuka Theatre: Power and promise, here, now, everywhere," 9 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Conservative intellectuals are still broadly hostile toward stronger enforcement of antitrust laws, and there's no reason to expect a general conservative rethink of their views of antitrust policy. — Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "Newly elected Republican senator could be Google’s fiercest critic," 24 Nov. 2018 Gershom Scholem, the pioneering scholar of kabbalah, was one of many public intellectuals who felt that Arendt had lost track of the human reality of the Holocaust amid the scintillating twists of her argument. — George Prochnik, New York Times, "The Philosopher in Dark Times," 12 Apr. 2018 This stance makes him exceptional among Latin American intellectuals, many of whom are still bewitched by anti-imperialism and socialism. — The Economist, "Mario Vargas Llosa explains why his politics changed," 26 Apr. 2018 Other ballparklike options include the first-rate fish and chips, dusted with malt-vinegar powder and served with sauce gribiche (tartar sauce for intellectuals). — Phil Vettel, chicagotribune.com, "Review: Will Wentworth's cooking at Mordecai earn him another Michelin star?," 8 June 2018 At parties, the New York intellectuals relished trading barbs and jabs. — Anna Diamond, Smithsonian, "Writing in the Public Eye, These Women Brought the 20th Century Into Focus," 4 Apr. 2018 His single-mindedness marked his friendships with the leading artists and intellectuals in his milieu, including Picasso. — Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, "Giacometti’s Skinny Sublimity," 6 June 2018 The coalition is made up of leftist intellectuals but also far-right evangelicals and old-time members of the long-ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party. — Kate Linthicum, latimes.com, "Five challenges that lie ahead for Mexico's next president," 2 July 2018 An accomplished poet and artist, Liu Xia joins several other fellow friends and Chinese intellectuals in exile in Berlin. — Suyin Haynes / Taipei, Time, "One Year on From His Death, Taiwan Remembers Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo," 13 July 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.