intelligence

A2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ɪnˈtɛl.ɪ.d͡ʒəns/ See IPA manual

Freq #2311

Meanings

1

noun
The ability to learn, understand, and think clearly.

Dolphins are known for their high intelligence.
2

noun
Secret information collected about an enemy or rival, or the activity of gathering it.

The spy passed military intelligence to his country.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the ability to learn,... intellect brightness wit

2 noun · secret information... intelligence information

More brain brains cleverness head judgment mind nous psyche reason smartness

Opposites

blockheadednessboneheadednessdenseness density dimnessdimwittednessdolterydullnessdullwittednessdumbnessdumminessduncedom

Word family

Derived forms anti-intelligenceciaco-intelligencecounter-intelligencecounterintelligencecyberintelligenceelintextelligencehuminthyperintelligenceintelintelligence-gathering

Related forms genius idiot intellectual intelligent stupidweak-mindedwisdom witty

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

artificial intelligence
computer methods that perform tasks associated with human reasoning or problem-solving

Adjective + noun
intelligence quotient
a numerical score intended to represent performance on an intelligence test

Noun + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people

Etymology

From Middle English intelligence, from Old French intelligence, from Latin intelligentia, which is from inter- (“between”) + legere (“to choose, pick out, read”), from Proto-Italic *legō (“to care”). Doublet of intelligentsia.

intelligence Middle English intelligentia Latin *legō Proto-Italic *leǵ- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# intelligence

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈtɛl.ɪ.d͡ʒəns/
**Frequency rank:** 2311

## Meanings
1. The ability to learn, understand, and think clearly.
2. Secret information collected about an enemy or rival, or the activity of gathering it.

## Examples
- Dolphins are known for their high intelligence.
- The spy passed military intelligence to his country.

## Synonyms
- brain
- brains
- brightness
- cleverness
- head
- intellect
- judgment
- mind
- nous
- psyche
- reason
- smartness

## Antonyms
- blockheadedness
- boneheadedness
- denseness
- density
- dimness
- dimwittedness
- doltery
- dullness
- dullwittedness
- dumbness
- dumminess
- duncedom

## Derived Forms
- anti-intelligence
- cia
- co-intelligence
- counter-intelligence
- counterintelligence
- cyberintelligence
- elint
- extelligence
- humint
- hyperintelligence
- intel
- intelligence-gathering

## Related Forms
- genius
- idiot
- intellectual
- intelligent
- stupid
- weak-minded
- wisdom
- witty

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: intelligence
- Root: intelligentia
- Root: *legō
- Root: *leǵ-
- Affix: -ence - state

## Etymology
From Middle English intelligence, from Old French intelligence, from Latin intelligentia, which is from inter- (“between”) + legere (“to choose, pick out, read”), from Proto-Italic *legō (“to care”). Doublet of intelligentsia.

## AI Etymology
Intelligence comes from Middle English intelligence, from Old French intelligence, from Latin intelligentia, which is from inter- (“between”) + legere (“to choose, pick out, read”), from Proto-Italic *legō (“to care”). Doublet of intelligentsia. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. The historical line also includes *leǵ-.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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