intellect

[in-tl-ekt]

noun

1. the power or faculty of the mind by which one knows or understands, as distinguished from that by which one feels and that by which one wills; the understanding; the faculty of thinking and acquiring knowledge.

   Synonyms: common sense, sense, reason

2. capacity for thinking and acquiring knowledge, especially of a high or complex order; mental capacity.

3. a particular mind or intelligence, especially of a high order.

4. a person possessing a great capacity for thought and knowledge.

5. minds collectively, as of a number of persons or the persons themselves.

intellect

/ ˈɪntɪˌlɛkt /

noun

1. the capacity for understanding, thinking, and reasoning, as distinct from feeling or wishing

2. a mind or intelligence, esp a brilliant one

   his intellect is wasted on that job

3. informal,  a person possessing a brilliant mind; brain

4. those possessing the greatest mental power

   the intellect of a nation

Other Word Forms

• intellective adjective
• intellectively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of intellect¹

1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin intellēctus, equivalent to intelleg(ere) “to understand” + -tus suffix of verbal action; intelligent

Word History and Origins

Origin of intellect¹

C14: from Latin intellectus comprehension, intellect, from intellegere to understand; see _intelligence

Synonym Study

See mind.

Example Sentences

But before Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch was ultimately crowned, chaos reigned -- from allegations of an insult to her intellect, to judges quitting and participants taking flops on and off the stage.

Read more on Barron's

The flip side of his enormous intellect, say critics, is a towering arrogance that alienated many over the years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Luckily, Julia’s poor posture and lack of intellect proved to be her good qualities.

Read more on Literature

Instead they revered problems of commerce as “the grandest effort of the human intellect.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Puzzles entice his keen intellect, but he will have to learn the difference between a paradox and a riddle.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ability 
• acumen 
• genius 
• intelligence 
• intuition 
• judgment 
• savvy