intelligence

noun

in·​tel·​li·​gence in-ˈte-lə-jən(t)s 

1

a(1)

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

also : the skilled use of reason

(2)

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

c

: mental acuteness : shrewdness

b

Christian Science : the basic eternal quality of divine Mind

2

a

: information, news

b

: information concerning an enemy or possible enemy or an area

also : an agency engaged in obtaining such information

3

: the act of understanding : comprehension

4

: the ability to perform computer functions

5

a

: intelligent minds or mind

cosmic intelligence

b

: an intelligent entity

especially : angel

Synonyms

• brain(s)
• brainpower
• gray matter
• headpiece
• intellect
• intellectuality
• mentality
• reason
• sense
• smarts

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

Tap into your political intelligence skills to learn what is and isn’t important to your manager. —Kathleen Shanley, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023

Federal investigators are working to understand the precise nature of Hana’s relationship with Egyptian government officials, including intelligence officers, and how far back those relationships may go. —Marina Dias, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023

Plenty of other people are interested in finding such things — not just legitimate actors like journalists and prosecutors, but also dangerous ones, like blackmailers and foreign intelligence organizations. —Jesse Gilbert, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2023

Oversight officials on the congressional intelligence committees did not respond on Monday to inquiries from WIRED. —Dell Cameron, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2023

Just to push you a little bit, should there be – does there need to be more transparency about the intelligence that Israel has, about the intelligence frankly that the United States has about Hamas? REP. —Nbc Universal, NBC News, 26 Nov. 2023

Hamas’s October 7 attack shattered Israel’s sense of security and humiliated its intelligence and security apparatus. —Joost R. Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2023

Hours before Israel's raid, the United States said its own intelligence indicated militants have used Shifa and other hospitals -- and tunnels beneath them -- to support military operations and hold hostages. —Najib Jobain, arkansasonline.com, 16 Nov. 2023

The disclosure, which appears to have been unintentional, provides a tiny glimpse into the highly secretive world of signals intelligence and how communications may be intercepted. —Matt Burgess, WIRED, 16 Nov. 2023

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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

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

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

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