intellectual

1 of 2

adjective

in·​tel·​lec·​tu·​al ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wəl How to pronounce intellectual (audio)
-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 noun
intellectually
ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wə-lē How to pronounce intellectual (audio)
-chə-lē
-shwə-lē
-chü(-ə)-lē
adverb
intellectualness
ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wəl-nəs How to pronounce intellectual (audio)
-chəl-
-shwəl-
-chü(-ə)l-
noun

intellectual

2 of 2

noun

1
: an intellectual person
2
intellectuals plural, archaic : intellectual powers

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
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

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of intellectual was in the 15th century

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.

Kids Definition

intellectual

1 of 2 adjective
in·​tel·​lec·​tu·​al ˌint-ᵊl-ˈek-ch(ə-w)əl How to pronounce intellectual (audio)
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 noun
intellectually adverb

intellectual

2 of 2 noun
: an intellectual person

More from Merriam-Webster on intellectual

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