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

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use genius in a sentence

All this shows the real problem when telling the story of geniuses: exposition.
Why Can’t Movies Capture Genius?|Clive Irving|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They may have been students, and they could have been computer geniuses.
Sony Hack: A Dictator Move?|Kevin Bleyer|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From The Innovators: How A Group Of Hackers, Geniuses, And Geeks Created The Digital Revolution by Walter Isaacson.
You Can Look It Up: The Wikipedia Story|Walter Isaacson|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Apparently the geniuses at Fox believe that the world leaders have no idea that we have racial problems in the United States.
The Fox News Apology Tour|Dean Obeidallah|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Match.com and Mensa have joined up, making it easier than ever to find fellow geniuses to date.
Online Dating for Geniuses Only|Charlotte Lytton|June 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The archdeacon speaks of spiritual geniuses, "geniuses in the region in which man holds communion with God."
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
Possibly their sole possessions consisted of the clothes they had on, a few bad pictures, and their several immortal geniuses.
The Real Latin Quarter|F. Berkeley Smith
Of geniuses in literature, one can count the names on his fingers; most authors are simply men of talent.
English: Composition and Literature|W. F. (William Franklin) Webster
It's the drink, ye see, as does for a terrible lot o' geniuses.
A Window in Thrums|J. M. Barrie
However, you two young ones are the geniuses of the family, and we'll look to you.
A Houseful of Girls|Sarah Tytler

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 related to genius

How to use genius in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for genius

Word Origin for genius