intelligent

[in-tel-i-juhnt]

adjective

1. having good understanding or a high mental capacity; quick to comprehend, as persons or animals.

   an intelligent student.

   Synonyms: bright
   Antonyms: stupid

2. displaying or characterized by quickness of understanding, sound thought, or good judgment.

   an intelligent reply.

   Synonyms: smart, shrewd, discerning, apt, bright, alert, clever, astute
   Antonyms: stupid

3. having the faculty of reasoning and understanding; possessing intelligence.

   intelligent beings in outer space.

4. Computers.,  pertaining to the ability to do data processing locally; smart.

   An intelligent terminal can edit input before transmission to a host computer.

5. Archaic.,  having understanding or knowledge (usually followed byof ).

intelligent

/ ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒənt /

adjective

1. having or indicating intelligence

2. having high intelligence; clever

3. indicating high intelligence; perceptive

   an intelligent guess

4. guided by reason; rational

5. (of computerized functions) able to modify action in the light of ongoing events

6. archaic,  having knowledge or information

   they were intelligent of his whereabouts

Other Word Forms

• intelligently adverb
• hyperintelligent adjective
• hyperintelligently adverb
• nonintelligent adjective
• nonintelligently adverb
• preintelligent adjective
• preintelligently adverb
• quasi-intelligent adjective
• quasi-intelligently adverb
• semi-intelligent adjective
• semi-intelligently adverb
• superintelligent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intelligent¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin intelligent- (stem of intelligēns, present participle of intelligere, variant of intellegere “to understand,” literally, “choose between),” equivalent to intel- (variant of inter- inter- ) + -lig- (combining form of leg-, stem of legere “to pick up, choose”; lection ) + -ent- -ent

Synonym Study

Intelligent, intellectual describe distinctive mental capacity. Intelligent often suggests a natural quickness of understanding: an intelligent reader. Intellectual implies not only having a high degree of understanding, but also a capacity and taste for the higher forms of knowledge: intellectual interests. See sharp.

Example Sentences

Political cartooning is a dying art, usurped by illustrations that trade intelligent ribbing for low-brow button pushing — or, equally as startling, memes that require minimal effort to make.

From Salon

I met good women, all intelligent, kind, loving and wise.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Hewitt's partner and family said they were "absolutely broken", describing him as "the most wonderful, intelligent, kind man and father".

From BBC

Ekitike is a player Howe knows well and, without blinking, he can reel off a concise scouting report: really good movement, intelligent, good in the air, scores goals off both feet.

From BBC

"She was compassionate, intelligent, brave, witty - simply a delightful person who loved sharing life with others," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• astute 
• brainy 
• bright 
• brilliant 
• creative 
• imaginative 
• inventive 
• knowledgeable 
• original 
• perceptive 
• rational 
• resourceful 
• smart 
• well-informed 
• wise