intellectual

[in-tl-ek-choo-uhl]

adjective

1. appealing to or engaging the intellect.

   intellectual pursuits.

   Synonyms: mental

2. of or relating to the intellect or its use.

   intellectual powers.

   Synonyms: mental

3. possessing or showing intellect or mental capacity, especially to a high degree.

   an intellectual person.

4. guided or developed by or relying on the intellect rather than upon emotions or feelings; rational.

5. characterized by or suggesting a predominance of intellect.

   an intellectual way of speaking.

noun

1. a person of superior intellect.

2. a person who places a high value on or pursues things of interest to the intellect or the more complex forms and fields of knowledge, as aesthetic or philosophical matters, especially on an abstract and general level.

3. an extremely rational person; a person who relies on intellect rather than on emotions or feelings.

4. a person professionally engaged in mental labor, as a writer or teacher.

5. Archaic.,  intellectuals,

   1. the mental faculties.

   2. things pertaining to the intellect.

intellectual

/ ˌɪntɪˈlɛktʃʊəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the intellect, as opposed to the emotions

2. appealing to or characteristic of people with a developed intellect

   intellectual literature

3. expressing or enjoying mental activity

noun

1. a person who enjoys mental activity and has highly developed tastes in art, literature, etc

2. a person who uses or works with his intellect

3. a highly intelligent person

intellectual

1. A person who engages in academic study or critical evaluation of ideas and issues. (See intelligentsia.)

Other Word Forms

• intellectually adverb
• intellectualness noun
• half-intellectual adjective
• half-intellectually adverb
• hyperintellectual adjective
• hyperintellectually adverb
• hyperintellectualness noun
• nonintellectual adjective
• nonintellectually adverb
• nonintellectualness noun
• overintellectual adjective
• overintellectually adverb
• overintellectualness noun
• preintellectual adjective
• preintellectually adverb
• quasi-intellectual adjective
• quasi-intellectually adverb
• semi-intellectual adjective
• semi-intellectually adverb
• superintellectual adjective
• superintellectually adverb
• unintellectual adjective
• unintellectually adverb
• intellectuality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of intellectual¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin intellēctuālis, equivalent to intellēctu-, stem of intellēctus intellect + -ālis -al ¹

Synonym Study

See intelligent.

Example Sentences

This is the latest round of copyright lawsuits that major studios have brought against AI companies over intellectual property concerns.

From Los Angeles Times

After the talks, Wang Jingtao, deputy head of China's cyberspace administration, suggested in a press conference the agreement included "licensing the algorithm and other intellectual property rights".

From BBC

They were always intellectual hubs where political views were debated intensively.

From Salon

It used to be that the annual Conservative Political Action Conference was the gathering where all the right-wing activists and conservative intellectuals would meet to compare notes and get on the same page.

From Salon

They provide not just "labour arbitrage" but also "intellectual arbitrage", Mr Mitra told the BBC in an email interview, when asked why Tesco is expanding its footprint.

From BBC

Related Words

• cerebral 
• creative 
• highbrow 
• mental 
• psychological 
• rational 
• scholarly 
• thoughtful