intellectual

1 of 2

adjective

in·​tel·​lec·​tu·​al ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wəl 

-chəl,

-shwəl,

-chü(-ə)l

1

a

: of or relating to the intellect or its use

b

: developed or chiefly guided by the intellect rather than by emotion or experience : rational

c

: requiring use of the intellect

intellectual games

2

a

: given to study, reflection, and speculation

b

: engaged in activity requiring the creative use of the intellect

intellectual playwrights

intellectuality

ˌin-tə-ˌlek-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

noun

intellectually

ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wə-lē 

-chə-lē

-shwə-lē

-chü(-ə)-lē

adverb

intellectualness

ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wəl-nəs 

-chəl-

-shwəl-

-chü(-ə)l-

noun

intellectual

2 of 2

noun

1

: an intellectual person

2

intellectuals plural, archaic : intellectual powers

Synonyms

Adjective

• blue
• cerebral
• eggheaded
• geeky
• highbrow
• highbrowed
• intellectualist
• intellectualistic
• long-haired
• longhair
• nerdish
• nerdy

Noun

• double-dome
• geek
• highbrow
• intellectualist
• longhair
• nerd

Examples of intellectual in a Sentence

Adjective

the social and intellectual life of the campus

as the daughter of college professors, she's used to being around intellectual people

Noun

He thinks that he's an intellectual, but he doesn't know what he's talking about.

She's a hard worker but she's no great intellectual.

a café where artists and intellectuals mingle

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

These experiences allow students to explore academic interests deeply while developing the intellectual vitality that selective colleges seek in applicants. —Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

The backstory: In 1654, these some 7,500 acres of ancient woodlands and meadows were acquired by the aristocratic Clerk family (who still own it today), who quickly set about establishing it as a hub for the aesthetic and intellectual elite of their time. —Liam Hess, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2025

Noun

There were radicals, activists, intellectuals as well as common criminals, the usual power brokers, and always a mob lurking in the background. —Phil Terrana, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025

During the Cold War, political parties, trade unions, intellectuals, civil-society organizations, and even religious leaders forged transnational ties in defense of democratic ideas—remember the AFL-CIO’s embrace of Poland’s Solidarity movement? —Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing intellectual

• anti-intellectual
• hyper-intellectual
• intellectual disability
• intellectual freedom
• intellectual property
• pseudo-intellectual

Rhymes for intellectual

• ineffectual
• aspectual
• effectual

Kids Definition

intellectual

1 of 2 adjective

in·​tel·​lec·​tu·​al ˌint-ᵊl-ˈek-ch(ə-w)əl 

1

: relating to the intellect or understanding

2

: having intellect to a high degree : engaged in or given to learning and thinking

an intellectual person

3

: requiring study and thought

intellectual games

intellectuality

-ˌek-chə-ˈwal-ət-ē 

noun

intellectually

-ˈek-chə-(wə-)lē 

adverb

intellectual

2 of 2 noun

: an intellectual person