genius

[ jeen-yuhs ]

/ ˈdʒin yəs /

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See synonyms for: genius / geniuses on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural gen·ius·es for 2, 3, 8, gen·i·i

[jee-nee-ahy] /ˈdʒi niˌaɪ/ for 6, 7, 9, 10.

an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work in science, art, music, etc.: the genius of Mozart.

a person having such capacity.

a person having an extraordinarily high intelligence rating on a psychological test, as an IQ above 140.

natural ability or capacity; strong inclination: a special genius for leadership.

distinctive character or spirit, as of a nation, period, or language.

the guardian spirit of a place, institution, etc.

either of two mutually opposed spirits, one good and the other evil, supposed to attend a person throughout life.

a person who strongly influences for good or ill the character, conduct, or destiny of a person, place, or thing: Rasputin, the evil genius of Russian politics.

Islamic Mythology. jinn; genie.

genie (def. 3).

OTHER WORDS FOR genius

1 intelligence, ingenuity, wit; brains.

3 mental giant, master, expert; whiz, brain, brainiac.

4 gift, talent, aptitude, faculty, endowment, predilection; penchant, knack, bent, flair, wizardry.

See synonyms for genius on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR genius

3 idiot, imbecile, half-wit, dope, moron; fool, simpleton, dunce, dullard, dolt; numbskull, blockhead, nitwit, ninny.

See antonyms for genius on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of genius

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin: “tutelary deity or genius of a person”; cf. genus

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH genius

genius , genus

Words nearby genius

genito-, genitor, genitourinary, genitourinary medicine, geniture, genius, Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration, genius loci, genizah, Genk, Genl.

How to use genius in a sentence

For example, if you’re skilled in Photoshop and you meet someone who is a genius with video editing, you all could agree to use your talents to help the other.
Networking 101: Why Working Together Creates More Opportunity Than Working Apart|Shantel Holder|September 4, 2020|Essence.com
He wasn’t some sort of genius, but he was good at reading people in terms of who was vulnerable, what their vulnerabilities were.
“People want to believe”: How Love Fraud builds an absorbing docuseries around a romantic con man|Alissa Wilkinson|September 4, 2020|Vox
We have a genius in our communities of color and we’re not necessarily leveraging those for social change.
How to Confront Racism in Philanthropy|Joshua Eferighe|August 24, 2020|Ozy
A large part of the impetus to start Camelback was just this feeling that we have a genius in our communities of color and we’re not necessarily leveraging those for social change.
How to Confront Racism in Philanthropy|Joshua Eferighe|August 24, 2020|Ozy

We’re not all geniuses with Einstein-like hair that are antisocial and just have Eureka moments all the time.
Real-life scientists inspire these comic book superheroes|Kyle Plantz|June 14, 2020|Science News
Bonauto, now an official MacArthur genius, is rightly known as the Thurgood Marshall of the marriage movement.
The Real Story Behind the Fight for Marriage Equality|E.J. Graff|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And this song is just absolute genius and totally universal.
Yes, I Like Christmas Music. Stop Laughing.|Michael Tomasky|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the comedic genius was wrong; success in most dimensions of the human enterprise is showing up at the right time.
Why We Should Delay The Israel-Palestinian Peace Process|Aaron David Miller|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The problem is, how do you find a movie narrative that can explain genius, British or otherwise?
Why Can’t Movies Capture Genius?|Clive Irving|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In that case the device was to put the genius in opposition to a majority of established cultural tastes and codes.
Why Can’t Movies Capture Genius?|Clive Irving|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
God has placed the genius of women in their hearts; because the works of this genius are always works of love.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
When Yima pressed the earth with this ring, the genius of the Earth, Aramaîti, responded to his wish and order.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
Even genius, however, needs direction and adjustment to secure the most perfect and reliable results.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
The universal ignorance of the working class broke down the aspiring force of genius.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
However, I have felt some comfort in knowing that it is not Liszt's genius alone that makes him such a player.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay

British Dictionary definitions for genius

genius

/ (ˈdʒiːnɪəs, -njəs) /

noun plural -uses or for senses 5, 6 genii (ˈdʒiːnɪˌaɪ)

a person with exceptional ability, esp of a highly original kind

such ability or capacityMozart's musical genius

the distinctive spirit or creative nature of a nation, era, language, etc

a person considered as exerting great influence of a certain sortan evil genius

Roman myth

the guiding spirit who attends a person from birth to death
the guardian spirit of a place, group of people, or institution

Arabian myth (usually plural) a demon; jinn

Word Origin for genius

C16: from Latin, from gignere to beget

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

genius

OTHER WORDS FOR genius

OPPOSITES FOR genius

Origin of genius

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH genius

Words nearby genius

Words related to genius

How to use genius in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for genius

Word Origin for genius