emotional intelligence

noun

: the ability to recognize, understand, and deal skillfully with one's own emotions and the emotions of others (as by regulating one's emotions or by showing empathy and good judgment in social interactions)

A large part of emotional intelligence is being able to think about and empathize with how other people are feeling. This often involves considering how you would respond if you were in the same situation.

—Kendra Cherry

We know that young children learn to identify, explain, and regulate their emotions, but we know much less about how children learn these things. They undoubtedly acquire some of their emotional intelligence from adults–—parents, teachers, and coaches, for example.

—Lawrence T. White

… thousands of workers during the "Great Resignation" discovered a new road map to success: being able to recognize and walk away from abusive situations. … Empathy, respectfulness and emotional intelligence are hallmarks of leaders for whom people enjoy working.

—Karla L. Miller

—abbreviation EI

called also emotional quotient

Examples of emotional intelligence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As industries evolve, leaders must master not only technical skills but also key soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. —Rhett Power, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

Editor’s picks The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time Today’s drivers, however, are tearing down those outdated stereotypes, revealing a more nuanced picture of strength that incorporates vulnerability and emotional intelligence. —Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024

And research backs this up with data showing that emotional intelligence accounts for more than 60% of people’s personal and professional achievements. —Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2024

Queen of Cups The Queen of Cups represents compassion, emotional intelligence and deep intuition. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined above