Skip to main content

intellectual — relating to the ability to think and understand ideas and information

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: relating to the ability to think and understand ideas and information

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl/

Example Sentences

  • My cat thinks he's an intellectual because he wears glasses while knocking books off my desk.
  • The intellectual property lawyer had to explain why you can't trademark the word 'awesome'.
  • She pursued intellectual growth through reading diverse literature.

intellectual

ADJECTIVE

[/ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl/]

relating to the ability to think and understand ideas and information

The debate became intensely intellectual — with every argument supported by logic and evidence.
💡 Concept

The debate became intensely intellectual — with every argument supported by logic and evidence.

The intellectual discussion continued for hours after the lecture officially ended. (INTEL + lecture → intellectual people gather INTEL, knowledge, and ideas through deep discussion and LECTURE)
🧠 Mnemonic

The intellectual discussion continued for hours after the lecture officially ended. (INTEL + lecture → intellectual people gather INTEL, knowledge, and ideas through deep discussion and LECTURE)

The intellectual discussion became increasingly conceptual and deeply philosophical.
🎵 Rhyme

The intellectual discussion became increasingly conceptual and deeply philosophical.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

Start FreeDemo

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl/
🇬🇧 UK/ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl/

🌳Etymology

Rootintellect
Suffix--ual

Origin

Derived from Latin 'intellectus', the past participle of 'intelligere', meaning 'to understand' or 'perceive'. The term entered English through Old French and Medieval Latin, where it was used from the Middle Ages onward to denote mental faculties and the capacity for reasoning.

Breakdown

intellect (from Latin intelligere: inter- (between) + legere (to choose/gather)) + -ual (adjective suffix denoting 'of or relating to'). The root 'intelligere' literally means 'to perceive by choosing between' or 'to understand'.

🎵Rhyme

effectualperpetualcontextual
effectual
perpetual
contextual

🔗Collocations

intellectual property
intellectual capacity
intellectual curiosity
intellectual development
intellectual debate
leading intellectual

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My cat thinks he's an intellectual because he wears glasses while knocking books off my desk.”

😄 Fun example

“The intellectual property lawyer had to explain why you can't trademark the word 'awesome'.”

“She pursued intellectual growth through reading diverse literature.”

“The conference attracted intellectuals from around the world.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

scholarlyacademiccerebraleruditelearned

Antonyms

ignorantunthinkingmindless

Related

intelligenceintellectphilosophyscholaracademic

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.

Start for Free60s Demo