genius

[ jeen-yuhs ]

noun

, plural gen·ius·es gen·i·i [jee, -nee-ahy]

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

   the genius of Mozart.

   Synonyms: wit, ingenuity, intelligence

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

   Synonyms: brainiac, brain, whiz, expert, master

   Antonyms: dope, half-wit, imbecile, idiot, ninny, nitwit, blockhead, numbskull, dolt, dullard, dunce, simpleton, fool, moron

4. natural ability or capacity; strong inclination:

   a special genius for leadership.

   Synonyms: flair, bent, knack, penchant, predilection, endowment, faculty, aptitude, talent, gift, wizardry

5. distinctive character or spirit, as of a nation, period, or language.
6. the guardian spirit of a place, institution, etc.
7. either of two mutually opposed spirits, one good and the other evil, supposed to attend a person throughout life.
8. 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.

9. Islamic Mythology. jinn; genie.
10. genie ( def 3 ).

genius

/ ˈdʒiːnɪəs; -njəs /

noun

1. a person with exceptional ability, esp of a highly original kind
2. such ability or capacity

   Mozart's musical genius

3. the distinctive spirit or creative nature of a nation, era, language, etc
4. a person considered as exerting great influence of a certain sort

   an evil genius

5. Roman myth
   1. the guiding spirit who attends a person from birth to death
   2. the guardian spirit of a place, group of people, or institution
6. Arabian myth usually plural a demon; jinn

Word History and Origins

Origin of genius¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of genius¹

C16: from Latin, from gignere to beget

Example Sentences

I suspect more than a few filmmakers will see themselves in this showdown between creative genius and cold, hard cash.

From Los Angeles Times

The genius of Brook's hundred at the Basin was the way in which he solved the problem of runscoring.

From BBC

He won a MacArthur genius grant in the process and penned the book “A New Philosophy of Opera,” which detailed a thriving future for the changing genre.

From Los Angeles Times

Where was the genius behind such classic sketches as “ball champions,” an early forerunner of “How To With John Wilson” and “I Think You Should Leave”?

From New York Times

"Dame Barbara Hepworth was a phenomenal artistic genius who will continue to inspire future generations with her unique genre-defining sculptures which remain as powerful and engaging now as during her lifetime," said Mr Bryant.

From BBC

Related Words

• ability
• accomplishment
• acumen
• aptitude
• brilliance
• flair
• imagination
• ingenuity
• inspiration
• intelligence
• inventiveness
• originality
• prodigy
• prowess
• talent
• wisdom

What Is The Plural Of Genius?

Plural word for genius

The plural form of genius can be either geniuses or genii, pronounced [ jee-nee-ahy ], depending on the intended meaning of the word. Geniuses is much more commonly used. The plural forms of several other singular words that end in -us are also formed in this way, such as virus/viruses, callus/calluses, and status/statuses. 

Irregular plurals that are formed like genii, such as radius/radii or cactus/cacti, derive directly from their original pluralization in Latin. However, the standard English plural -es is often also acceptable for these terms, as in radiuses and cactuses.