noun
genii
JEE-nee-eye
Genii (noun) means plural of genius, referring to guardian spirits in Roman belief. Example: “Ancient Romans believed household genii watched over the family.”
noun
1
Plural of genius, referring to guardian spirits in Roman belief.
"Ancient Romans believed household genii watched over the family."
"On the 11th Century glass bowl above, the painted figures—winged genii, nude athletes and brawny soldiers—resemble mythological characters but may be only lighthearted mimicry of ancient Greek or Roman subjects."
— Colin Thubron, Seafarers: The Venetians (1980)
2
Plural of genius, referring to people of extraordinary intelligence or talent.
"As far as we’re concerned, having our piece of this country’s rich literary history is our birthright. As such, we have a list of literary demands. Because we are genii, we expect this won’t be a problem."
— Tara Flynn, L is for … Literature (2015)
"The panel brought together several of the field's great genii."
How to use genii
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe plural form of "genius" — used for guardian spirits or, less commonly, for multiple brilliant people.
Common mistake
"Geniuses" is the far more common plural today for brilliant people; "genii" is mostly reserved for the mythological/spirit sense.
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Ancient Romans believed household _____ watched over the family.
Rhymes for genii
See all rhymes for genii →Frequently asked questions
What does “genii” mean?
The word “genii” means plural of genius, referring to guardian spirits in Roman belief. In plain terms, the plural form of "genius" — used for guardian spirits or, less commonly, for multiple brilliant people.
How do you pronounce “genii”?
“Genii” is pronounced JEE-nee-eye (/ˈdʒi(ː)niaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “genii” in a sentence?
Here is “genii” used in a sentence: “Ancient Romans believed household genii watched over the family.”
What part of speech is “genii”?
“Genii” is a noun.
How many meanings does “genii” have?
“Genii” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: plural of genius, referring to guardian spirits in Roman belief.
