intelligence

noun

in·​tel·​li·​gence in-ˈte-lə-jən(t)s 

1

a

: the ability to learn or understand things or to deal with new or difficult situations : reason

studies of human and animal intelligence

a person of average intelligence

b

: mental acuteness : cleverness

was impressed by the candidate's intelligence

… his flights of taste and his experimentation are based on intelligence, knowledge, and training, not on slapdash hits and misses …

—Fred Ferretti

Their vividly colored feathers and intelligence are a draw to those seeking a less conventional pet than a dog or cat.

—Hannah Fry

c

archaic : comprehension, knowledge

… she prepared to meet her lover's gaze—that gaze was altered, the lover her lover no longer. How sure and rapid is the intelligence of true affection!

—Catharine Maria Sedgwick

d

Christian Science : the basic eternal quality of divine Mind

2

a

old-fashioned : information, news

… the following intelligence will doubtless be highly gratifying to the friends of freedom …

—William Still

b

: information concerning an enemy or possible enemy

an intelligence operation

intelligence reports/sources

also : an agency engaged in obtaining such information

the head of army intelligence

3

: the ability to perform computer functions

4

a

: intelligent minds or mind

cosmic intelligence

b

: an intelligent person or being

… her mind naturally chose out the greater intelligences among those she encountered …

—George Eliot

especially : angel

The angelic intelligences who supervised the spheres …

—O. B. Hardison, Jr.

Synonyms of intelligence

• intellect
• sense

Examples of intelligence in a Sentence

She impressed us with her superior intelligence.

a person of average intelligence

gathering intelligence about a neighboring country's activities

Recent Examples on the Web

Liz Eversoll, who runs the skills intelligence company Career Highways, set me straight. — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

In 2024, an incendiary device ignited at a logistics center at the airport and set fire to a freight container, part of a plot that Western security officials suspect was organized by Russian intelligence. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Danny Citrinowicz, former head of the Iran branch of Israeli military intelligence, said Saudi Arabia’s conflict with the Houthis is far from over, adding that the group has appeared to cross a key threshold. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, ship traffic through Hormuz was down 33% on Friday compared to the day prior with most vessels using the Iranian route, according to the trade intelligence firm Kpler. — Spencer Kimball,justina Lee, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin intelligentia, from intelligent-, intelligens intelligent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing intelligence

• artificial general intelligence
• artificial intelligence
• emotional intelligence
• generative artificial intelligence
• insult someone's intelligence
• intelligence quotient
• intelligence test

Rhymes for intelligence

• counterintelligence

Kids Definition

intelligence

noun

in·​tel·​li·​gence in-ˈtel-ə-jən(t)s 

1

: the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems : reason

2

a

: news sense 1a

b

: information concerning an enemy or possible enemy

also : an agency engaged in obtaining such information

Medical Definition

intelligence

noun

in·​tel·​li·​gence in-ˈtel-ə-jən(t)s 

1

a

: the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations

b

: the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as tests)

2

: mental acuteness

intelligent

in-ˈtel-ə-jənt 

adjective

intelligently adverb