Dictionary

intelligence en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ɪnˈtɛl.ɪ.d͡ʒəns/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *-tér Proto-Indo-European *h₁n̥tér Proto-Italic *n̥ter Latin inter Latin inter- Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *léǵeti Proto-Italic *legō Latin legō? Proto-Indo-European *h₂leg- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂légeti Proto-Italic *legō? Latin intellegō Latin intellegēns Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin intellegentia Old French intelligencebor. Middle English intelligence English intelligence From Middle English intelligence, from Old French intelligence, from Latin intelligentia, which is most likely from inter- (“between”) + legere (“to choose, pick out, read”). Doublet of intelligentsia.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The capacity of mind, especially to understand principles, truths, facts or meanings, acquire knowledge, and apply it to practice; the ability to comprehend and learn; the ability to process sentient experience to generate true beliefs with a justified degree of confidence.
   • 1936 Feb., F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The Crack-Up", Esquire: ...the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.
   • Not so, however, with Tarzan, the man-child. His life amidst the dangers of the jungle had taught him to meet emergencies with self-confidence, and his higher intelligence resulted in a quickness of mental action far beyond the powers of the apes. 1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as chapter 5, in Tarzan of the Apes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, June 1914, →OCLC:
2. (countable, uncountable) The capacity of mind, especially to understand principles, truths, facts or meanings, acquire knowledge, and apply it to practice; the ability to comprehend and learn; the ability to process sentient experience to generate true beliefs with a justified degree of confidence. ▸ An individual's expected relative performance in a cognitive test.
   • intelligence quotient
   • Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits. 2013 July 19, Ian Sample, “Irregular bedtimes may affect children's brains”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 34:
3. (uncountable) The capacity of mind, especially to understand principles, truths, facts or meanings, acquire knowledge, and apply it to practice; the ability to comprehend and learn; the ability to process sentient experience to generate true beliefs with a justified degree of confidence. ▸ The quality of making use or having made use of such capacities: depth of understanding, mental quickness.
   • From a religious point of view, a bodhisattva with sharp faculties and great intelligence can cause a tremendous upheaval if he or she misuses that power under the influence of negative emotions, like attachment and hatred. 2018, Dalai Lama, translated by Dhondup Tsering, Introduction to Buddhism, →ISBN, page 8:
4. (countable) An entity that has such capacities.
   • But there are latent powers within man alone that are not yet fully understood and[…] we cannot definitely state what is, and what is not, due to the interference or influence of discarnate intelligences. 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: John Long Ltd, page 275:
   • The living intelligence, the Martian within the hood, was slain and splashed to the four winds of heaven, and the thing was now but a mere intricate device of metal whirling to destruction. 1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: Heinemann, page 102:
   • The great Intelligences fair That range above our mortal state, In circle round the blessed gate, Received and gave him welcome there. 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto LXXXIII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 118:
   • He passes beyond the projections and thought forms of his own creation to the wholly other and independent world of the angelic intelligences. 1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 228:
5. (uncountable) Information, often secret, about an enemy or about hostile activities.
   • Their lack of good intelligence also meant that they vastly overestimated the size of their foes for far too long, hails of armor-piercing shells doing comparatively little damage compared to the high explosive that they should have been using. 2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 40:01 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 03 Nov 2022:
6. (countable) Information, often secret, about an enemy or about hostile activities. ▸ A political or military department, agency or unit designed to gather information, usually secret, about the enemy or about hostile activities.
7. (countable, dated, uncountable) Acquaintance; intercourse; familiarity.
   • He liv’d rather in a fair Intelligence than any Friendſhip with the Favourites;[…] 1702, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, book I, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], volume I, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theater, page 48:
   • Yet Josephus tells us of Phiala, a ſpring[…] into which Philip the Tetrarch caſt chaffe to try the experiment, and it was rendred up again into the ſtreame of Iordan. Whence he concluded, that this river entertained an underground intelligence with that fountain. 1650, Thomas Fuller, A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine and the Confines Thereof, London, page 106:

Forms

Antonyms

dullness · density · duncehood · foolishness · boneheadedness · thickheadedness · duncedom · vacuousness · moronicity · unintelligence · foolery · unintelligence · obtusity · idiocy · dimwittedness · slow-wittedness · blockheadedness · dullwittedness · denseness · obtuseness · dimness · emptyheadedness · hebetude · dumminess · vacuity · dumbness · fatuity · idioticness · stupidity · stolidity · moronicness · imbecility · doltery · unintelligence · duncery

Deriveds

intelligence agency · emotional intelligence · business intelligence · computational intelligence · SIGINT · insult one's intelligence · artificial intelligence · hyperintelligence · CIA · intelligenced · signals intelligence · unintelligence · intelligencing · HUMINT · MI5 · SOCMINT · intelligence office · co-intelligence · swarm intelligence · MI6 · communications intelligence · extelligence · no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public · COMINT · intelligence community · anti-intelligence · fluid intelligence · intelligencer · counterintelligence · intelligence asset · synthetic intelligence · sigint · intelligence officer · counter-intelligence · nonintelligence · IQ · artificial general intelligence · nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public · adaptive intelligence · social media intelligence · ELINT · cyberintelligence · machine intelligence · superintelligence · misintelligence · electronic intelligence · nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people · subintelligence · intelligence service · intelligencelike · human intelligence · tactical intelligence · intel · financial intelligence unit · humint · SIS · counter intelligence · intelligence-gathering · intelligence quotient

Holonyms

faculty

Relateds

slow on the uptake · weak-minded · wisdom · genius · stupid · quick on the uptake · intellectual · idiot · not the sharpest tool in the shed · intelligent · not the brightest bulb in the chandelier · witty

Synonyms

sapient · judgment · smartness · psyche · sentient · intelligence · intellect · brightness · esprit · mind · sophont · wit · smartness · wit · smartness · brightness · reason · intelligence · brains · wit · smartness · head · brain · smarts · intellect · cleverness · brightness · brightness · wit · intellect · intellect · nous

Translations (299)

el νοημοσύνη (capacity of mind) · is vitsmunir (capacity of mind) · tl pamalayan (department, agency or unit) · sv intelligens (entity that has such capacities) · he מוֹדִיעִין (information about the enemy) · fi älyllinen olento (entity that has such capacities) · tk akyl (capacity of mind) · ba аҡыл (capacity of mind) · fa-ira اِطِّلاعات (information about the enemy) · pl inteligencja (capacity of mind) · ur عَقْل (capacity of mind) · tr istihbarat teşkilatı (department, agency or unit) · hu ész (capacity of mind) · cmn 情報 /情报 (information about the enemy) · da intelligens (capacity of mind) · el νοήμων (entity that has such capacities) · mk разузна́вачка слу́жба (department, agency or unit) · sh у̑м (capacity of mind) · he תּבוּנָה (capacity of mind) · sh inteligèncija (capacity of mind) · sa प्रज्ञा (capacity of mind) · an intelichencia (capacity of mind) · fo vit (capacity of mind) · cs inteligence (capacity of mind) · cs rozvědka (department, agency or unit) · et intelligents (capacity of mind) · zza aqil (capacity of mind) · jv ꦥꦫꦶꦥꦶꦤ꧀ꦠꦼꦂ (capacity of mind) · ko 이해력 (capacity of mind) · et mõistus (capacity of mind) · ca intel·ligència (entity that has such capacities) · ro serviciu de informații (department, agency or unit) · et luure (department, agency or unit) · tt акыл (capacity of mind) · ckb هۆش (capacity of mind) · th ปรีชา (capacity of mind) · ga meabhair (capacity of mind) · es inteligencia (capacity of mind) · de Geheimdienst (department, agency or unit) · zza fam (capacity of mind) · sv underrättelsetjänst (department, agency or unit) · bg интеле́кт (capacity of mind) · af intelligensie (department, agency or unit) · pl wywiad (department, agency or unit) · nb intelligens (capacity of mind) · bn বুদ্ধি (capacity of mind) · cu разумъ (capacity of mind) · es inteligencia (department, agency or unit) · id kecerdasan (capacity of mind) · sk intelekt (capacity of mind) · uk розвідда́ні (information about the enemy) · az kəşfiyyat məlumatı (information about the enemy) · tg разведка (department, agency or unit) · sa मनस् (capacity of mind) · nn etterretning (information about the enemy) · et intelligents (entity that has such capacities) · pl um (capacity of mind) · te మేధస్సు (capacity of mind) · ga éirimiúlacht (capacity of mind) · sq zbulimit (capacity of mind) · wyi yurlendj (capacity of mind) · sv intelligens (capacity of mind) · orv розумъ (capacity of mind) · ru рассу́док (capacity of mind) · sk rozum (capacity of mind) · fa-ira هوشْمَنْدی (capacity of mind) · he אגף המודיעין (department, agency or unit) · ca intel·ligència (department, agency or unit) · ru интеллиге́нтность (capacity of mind) · ug ئەقىل (capacity of mind) · km បញ្ញា (capacity of mind) · he אִינְטֶלִיגֶנְצְיָה (capacity of mind) · be інтэле́кт (capacity of mind) · lt inteligencija (capacity of mind) · bg разузна́ване (information about the enemy) · da efterretningstjeneste (department, agency or unit) · grc σύνεσις (capacity of mind) · et arukus (capacity of mind) · uk ро́зум (capacity of mind) · fa-ira اِطِّلاعات (department, agency or unit) · uk інтеле́кт (capacity of mind) · nb etterretning (information about the enemy) · nl intelligentie (capacity of mind) · tg зеҳн (capacity of mind) · sk spravodajská služba (department, agency or unit) · fa-ira هوش (capacity of mind) · kk барлау (department, agency or unit) · mk акал (capacity of mind) · uz aql (capacity of mind) · pt inteligência (department, agency or unit) · ka ჭკუა (capacity of mind) · cmn 心智 (capacity of mind) · ang orþanc (capacity of mind) · id intelijen (department, agency or unit) · fi älykkyys (capacity of mind) · ka სადაზვერვო მონაცემები (information about the enemy) · ru ра́зум (capacity of mind) · my အသိဉာဏ် (capacity of mind) · km ញាណ (capacity of mind) · eo inteligenteco (capacity of mind) · sv underrättelse (information about the enemy) · ca seny (capacity of mind) · bg ум (capacity of mind) · ga rannóg faisnéise (department, agency or unit) · lo ປັນຍາ (capacity of mind) · ar مُخَابَرَات (department, agency or unit) · ro inteligență (entity that has such capacities) · sl inteligenca (capacity of mind) · ast intelixencia (capacity of mind) · ru разведда́нные (information about the enemy) · cmn 情報機構 /情报机构 (department, agency or unit) · pl intelekt (capacity of mind) · sh интелигѐнција (capacity of mind) · fi tiedustelutieto (information about the enemy) · hi आसूचना (information about the enemy) · ru разведслу́жба (department, agency or unit) · hy խելք (capacity of mind) · sh интелигѐнција (entity that has such capacities) · ca llestesa (capacity of mind) · et intelligentsus (capacity of mind) · ko 지성 (capacity of mind) · es inteligencia (information about the enemy) · az ağıl (capacity of mind) · hi आसूचना (department, agency or unit) · sh обавјештајна служба (department, agency or unit) · sa क्रतु (capacity of mind) · et aru (capacity of mind) · tr zekâ (capacity of mind) · ar عَقْل (capacity of mind) · ar جِهَاز الْمُخَابَرَات (department, agency or unit) · id dinas intelijen (department, agency or unit) · sh rȁzūm (capacity of mind) · ur استخبارات (information about the enemy) · br naouegezh (capacity of mind) · mk интелигенција (capacity of mind) · vi trí năng (capacity of mind) · et intellekt (capacity of mind) · la ingenium (capacity of mind) · id intelijen (information about the enemy) · pt inteligência (entity that has such capacities) · ko 첩보 (information about the enemy) · hu hírszerzés (department, agency or unit) · bg разсъ́дък (capacity of mind) · de Sicherheitsdienst (department, agency or unit) · bg акъ́л (capacity of mind) · pa ਅਕਲ (capacity of mind) · cs zpravodajská služba (department, agency or unit) · hy հետախուզություն (department, agency or unit) · br intent (capacity of mind) · he בִּיּוּן (information about the enemy) · ko 지혜 (capacity of mind) · gl intelixencia (department, agency or unit) · ha fahami (capacity of mind) · et taip (capacity of mind) · nn intelligens (capacity of mind) · uz razvedka (department, agency or unit) · th ปัญญา (capacity of mind) · sh ȗm (capacity of mind) · io inteligenteso (capacity of mind) · tg ақл (capacity of mind) · ka ინტელექტი (capacity of mind) · et nutikus (capacity of mind) · sh obavještajna služba (department, agency or unit) · de Intelligenz (capacity of mind) · mk интелиге́нција (entity that has such capacities) · ja 情報機関 (department, agency or unit) · ky разведка (department, agency or unit) · pt inteligência (information about the enemy) · fo intelligensur (capacity of mind) · mi mōhiotanga (capacity of mind) · az kəşfiyyat (department, agency or unit) · tk razwedka (department, agency or unit) · fi sotilastiedustelu (department, agency or unit) · ru интелле́кт (capacity of mind) · eo inteligento (entity that has such capacities) · hi बुद्धि (capacity of mind) · la intelligentia (capacity of mind) · sk rozviedka (department, agency or unit) · ru интеллиге́нция (entity that has such capacities) · uk розві́дка (department, agency or unit) · la nūntius (information about the enemy) · sh ра̏зӯм (capacity of mind) · sl obveščevalna služba (department, agency or unit) · cmn 智力 (capacity of mind) · fo fregnartænasta (department, agency or unit) · mk разузнавање (information about the enemy) · nl inlichtingendienst (department, agency or unit) · fi äly (capacity of mind) · ja 情報 (information about the enemy) · tl pamalay (information about the enemy) · sh обавештајна служба (department, agency or unit) · as মন (capacity of mind) · uk глузд (capacity of mind) · ru све́дения (information about the enemy) · bg разузна́ване (department, agency or unit) · ga faisnéis (information about the enemy) · ko 지력 (capacity of mind) · tr anlayış (capacity of mind) · el υπηρεσία πληροφοριών (department, agency or unit) · nl inlichtingen (information about the enemy) · th สมอง (capacity of mind) · ar ذَكَاء (capacity of mind) · pl rozum (capacity of mind) · ca intel·ligència (capacity of mind) · tl talino (capacity of mind) · my ဉာဏ (capacity of mind) · sl razum (capacity of mind) · ks عَقٕل (capacity of mind) · de intelligentes Leben (entity that has such capacities) · lo ສະໝອງ (capacity of mind) · as বুদ্ধি (capacity of mind) · th เมธา (capacity of mind) · ka გონებრივი შესაძლებლობები (capacity of mind) · be глузд (capacity of mind) · ky акыл (capacity of mind) · ro inteligență (capacity of mind) · ru разве́дка (department, agency or unit) · ko 정보기관 (department, agency or unit) · tr istihbarat (information about the enemy) · tr akıllı yaşam (entity that has such capacities) · it intelligenza (capacity of mind) · fr renseignements (department, agency or unit) · tl katalinuhan (capacity of mind) · et luureandmed (information about the enemy) · et tarkus (capacity of mind) · mn оюун ухаан (capacity of mind) · pl wywiad (information about the enemy) · lv saprāts (capacity of mind) · cmn 智能 (entity that has such capacities) · tr akıl (capacity of mind) · sh inteligèncija (entity that has such capacities) · aht hwyaa (capacity of mind) · ar مَعْلُومَات (information about the enemy) · ota هوش (capacity of mind) · ka დაზვერვის ორგანო (department, agency or unit) · ar مُخَابَرَات (information about the enemy) · be разведда́нныя (information about the enemy) · hu intelligencia (capacity of mind) · vi trí thông minh (capacity of mind) · sh obaveštajna služba (department, agency or unit) · tg ҳӯш (capacity of mind) · uk ро́звідка (department, agency or unit) · de Geheimdienstinformationen (information about the enemy) · es sabiola (Americanism) (capacity of mind) · et luureteave (information about the enemy) · cy dealltwriaeth (capacity of mind) · lv gudrība (capacity of mind) · ks گاٹہٕ (capacity of mind) · de Nachrichtendienst (department, agency or unit) · vi trí tuệ (capacity of mind) · ka სადაზვერვო სამსახური (department, agency or unit) · izh äly (capacity of mind) · ru ум (capacity of mind) · el πληροφορία (information about the enemy) · ga intleacht (entity that has such capacities) · yi שׂכל (capacity of mind) · eu inteligentzia (department, agency or unit) · mk ум (capacity of mind) · sk um (capacity of mind) · lv inteliģence (capacity of mind) · ka დაზვერვა (information about the enemy) · hy բանականություն (capacity of mind) · da efterretninger (information about the enemy) · is leyniþjónusta (department, agency or unit) · ru разве́дывательные да́нные (information about the enemy) · ks بۄد (capacity of mind) · da intelligens (entity that has such capacities) · es información (information about the enemy) · gl intelixencia (capacity of mind) · pl rozsądek (capacity of mind) · cs intelekt (capacity of mind) · ro deșteptăciune (capacity of mind) · sk inteligencia (capacity of mind) · cs rozum (capacity of mind) · ota عقل (capacity of mind) · jv ꦮꦱꦮꦶꦢꦾ (information about the enemy) · fr intelligence (capacity of mind) · be выве́дка (department, agency or unit) · fr renseignements (information about the enemy) · kmr hiş (capacity of mind) · be разве́дка (department, agency or unit) · et jälitusteave (information about the enemy) · ur استخبار (information about the enemy) · de Klugheit (capacity of mind) · ro informații (information about the enemy) · ko 정보 (information about the enemy) · ja 知性 (capacity of mind) · nl intelligent wezen (entity that has such capacities) · pt inteligência (capacity of mind) · cs inteligence (entity that has such capacities) · alt агыл (capacity of mind) · uk розсу́док (capacity of mind) · ms kecerdasan (capacity of mind) · kk ақыл (capacity of mind) · ug رازۋېدكا (department, agency or unit) · is greind (capacity of mind) · be рассу́дак (capacity of mind) · be ро́зум (capacity of mind) · fa-ira عَقْل (capacity of mind)