genius

[jeen-yuh s]

See more synonyms for genius 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).

Origin of genius

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: tutelary deity or genius of a person; cf. genus

Can be confusedgenius genus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for geniuses

acumen, knack, prowess, ability, ingenuity, intelligence, accomplishment, brilliance, wisdom, originality, imagination, aptitude, talent, prodigy, inspiration, inventiveness, flair, bent, brain, aptness

Examples from the Web for geniuses

Contemporary Examples of geniuses

All this shows the real problem when telling the story of geniuses: exposition.
Why Can’t Movies Capture Genius?
Clive Irving
December 14, 2014
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
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
Well, a lot of people who have been called crazy later went on to be recognized as geniuses.
6 Reasons This Could Be Obama’s Best Year as President
Dean Obeidallah
January 3, 2014
Geniuses became the saints of an increasingly secular Europe.
What is a Genius?
Nick Romeo
November 9, 2013

Historical Examples of geniuses

Geniuses are common enough nowadays; there are plenty more where he came from.
Audrey Craven
May Sinclair
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
Of course, if we have ideas that other people never think of, it means we are geniuses!
Chatterbox, 1906
Various
Geniuses are always different from other people, aren't they?
Virginia
Ellen Glasgow

British Dictionary definitions for geniuses

genius

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
1. the guiding spirit who attends a person from birth to death
2. 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

Word Origin and History for geniuses

genius

late 14c., "tutelary god (classical or pagan)," from Latin genius "guardian deity or spirit which watches over each person from birth; spirit, incarnation, wit, talent;" also "prophetic skill," originally "generative power," from root of gignere "beget, produce" (see kin), from PIE root *gen- "produce." Sense of "characteristic disposition" is from 1580s. Meaning "person of natural intelligence or talent" and that of "natural ability" are first recorded 1640s.