intellectual

1 of 2

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 2

noun

1

: an intellectual person

2

intellectuals plural, archaic : intellectual powers

Synonyms of intellectual

Adjective

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

Noun

• 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

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

This changed the code of capital to privilege the value of intellectual monopolies. —Literary Hub, 28 May 2026

This is a book of profound intellectual altruism and moral urgency that insists on summoning courage despite (or because of) societal and political cleavage. —Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026

Noun

The effects of his revolution on the party and its ability to govern are far greater than many intellectuals, politicians, and staffers seem to grasp. —Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026

Consequently, teleSUR often manages to obtain firsthand information from a representative network of nongovernmental organizations, political parties, unions, intellectuals, human rights defenders, and minorities, among others. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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