in·tel·lec·tu·al
ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wəl 
-chəl,
-shwəl,
-chü(-ə)l
1
2
a
: given to study, reflection, and speculation
b
: engaged in activity requiring the creative use of the intellect
intellectual playwrights
1
: an intellectual person
2
intellectuals plural, archaic
: intellectual powers
Synonyms
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
Jessica Testa, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2023
Nor does her intellectual prowess overwhelm her empathy for victims of injustice — particularly women, but really any living creature aiming to survive.
—Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
The free-spirited, intellectual Beneatha is being wooed by two men: the wealthy and snobbish George Murchison (Kadahj Bennett) and an ambitious student from Nigeria named Joseph Asagai (Joshua Olumide), whose goal is to transform his country.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2023
This coincided with his quitting the governing board of Sciences Po as well as leaving roles in an intellectual club and a political science publication.
—Jack Guy, CNN, 6 Sep. 2023
The point of learning to write is not simply intellectual self-discovery.
—Asim Ali, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2023
Liszt’s determination to apply the breadth of his reading and the richness of his experience helped move the art of composition onto a broader intellectual plane.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
The rise of Jordan Peterson as a conservative intellectual figure had everything to do with his rhetoric.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2023
Perhaps the actor wanted to shine a light on his intellectual side, going for this thoughtful pose during his 1987 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure photo shoot.
—Diane J. Cho, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2023
Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, 10 Sep. 2023
The movement is now divided on many topics, but few gain such robust and near-uniform approval among conservative intellectuals as free trade.
—Henry Olsen, National Review, 1 Sep. 2023
The university employees used as benchmarks by the study, most of whom are intellectuals living in cities, may be characterized by a stronger self-preparatory awareness, higher vaccination rate, and more accessible health care resources, Jin said.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 25 Aug. 2023
Suddenly, the public confuses you readily with another public intellectual, one whose books were once respected before her ideas and methods took a turn into conspiracy theories.
—Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
Its busy shipyard and rich silk factories funded a thriving cultural life, with the influx of foreign merchants and intellectuals adding a cosmopolitan air.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Aug. 2023
An economist, an adviser to investment banks, and a public intellectual, King ruminates on the return of inflation.
—Stephen D. King, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023
But some of those tools were thought by conservative legal intellectuals to run afoul of the strict separation of powers.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 18 July 2023
What makes the document striking, beyond its stark language, is the hefty roster of public intellectuals lining up behind it.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2023
See More
Adjective
Peter Do offers a grown-up, intellectual glamour, made to last forever.
—Jessica Testa, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2023
Nor does her intellectual prowess overwhelm her empathy for victims of injustice — particularly women, but really any living creature aiming to survive.
—Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
The free-spirited, intellectual Beneatha is being wooed by two men: the wealthy and snobbish George Murchison (Kadahj Bennett) and an ambitious student from Nigeria named Joseph Asagai (Joshua Olumide), whose goal is to transform his country.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2023
This coincided with his quitting the governing board of Sciences Po as well as leaving roles in an intellectual club and a political science publication.
—Jack Guy, CNN, 6 Sep. 2023
The point of learning to write is not simply intellectual self-discovery.
—Asim Ali, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2023
Liszt’s determination to apply the breadth of his reading and the richness of his experience helped move the art of composition onto a broader intellectual plane.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
The rise of Jordan Peterson as a conservative intellectual figure had everything to do with his rhetoric.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2023
Perhaps the actor wanted to shine a light on his intellectual side, going for this thoughtful pose during his 1987 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure photo shoot.
—Diane J. Cho, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2023
Noun
Scientists and intellectuals like Noam Chomsky, Stephen Hawking, Jane Goodall and David Attenborough were making contributions well into their 70s and 80s.
—Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, 10 Sep. 2023
The movement is now divided on many topics, but few gain such robust and near-uniform approval among conservative intellectuals as free trade.
—Henry Olsen, National Review, 1 Sep. 2023
The university employees used as benchmarks by the study, most of whom are intellectuals living in cities, may be characterized by a stronger self-preparatory awareness, higher vaccination rate, and more accessible health care resources, Jin said.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 25 Aug. 2023
Suddenly, the public confuses you readily with another public intellectual, one whose books were once respected before her ideas and methods took a turn into conspiracy theories.
—Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
Its busy shipyard and rich silk factories funded a thriving cultural life, with the influx of foreign merchants and intellectuals adding a cosmopolitan air.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Aug. 2023
An economist, an adviser to investment banks, and a public intellectual, King ruminates on the return of inflation.
—Stephen D. King, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023
But some of those tools were thought by conservative legal intellectuals to run afoul of the strict separation of powers.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 18 July 2023
What makes the document striking, beyond its stark language, is the hefty roster of public intellectuals lining up behind it.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intellectual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing intellectual
Articles Related to intellectual
Dictionary Entries Near intellectual
Cite this Entry
“Intellectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intellectual. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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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
intellectual
2 of 2 noun
: an intellectual person
More from Merriam-Webster on intellectual
Nglish: Translation of intellectual for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of intellectual for Arabic Speakers
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