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

Thomas is at once an intellectual hero and a kind of surrogate father to the narrator. —Giles Harvey, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026

The number one thing that worries family caregivers for adults with an intellectual or developmental disability isn't money or safety. —Kat McGowan, NPR, 28 Mar. 2026

Noun

In the city, reactions are more mixed within the Arab elite class, causing a rift between the business community and the intellectuals. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026

The mix of Byzantine architecture, volcanic landscapes, and community of artists and intellectuals makes a visit here feel like a rare discovery. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 Mar. 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

• ineffectual
• aspectual
• effectual

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