intellect
IHN-tuh-lehkt
Intellect (noun) means the mental capacity for reasoning, understanding, and abstract thought. Example: “He was known as much for his sharp intellect as for his kindness.”
noun
1
The mental capacity for reasoning, understanding, and abstract thought.
"He was known as much for his sharp intellect as for his kindness."
"The puzzle was designed to test raw intellect rather than knowledge."
"Intellect is one of man's greatest powers."
How to use intellect
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person's ability to think, reason, and understand things clearly.
Common mistake
Intellect refers to the mental faculty itself, while intelligence often refers to how well that faculty performs or is measured.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sharp intellect
a fine intellect
human intellect
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Word forms
- Plural
- intellects
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was known as much for his sharp _____ as for his kindness.
Etymology
From Latin intellectus, "understanding," from intellegere, "to understand," literally "to choose between" (inter-, "between" + legere, "to gather, choose").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “intellect” mean?
The word “intellect” means the mental capacity for reasoning, understanding, and abstract thought. In plain terms, a person's ability to think, reason, and understand things clearly.
How do you pronounce “intellect”?
“Intellect” is pronounced IHN-tuh-lehkt (/ˈɪntəˌlɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “intellect” in a sentence?
Here is “intellect” used in a sentence: “He was known as much for his sharp intellect as for his kindness.”
What part of speech is “intellect”?
“Intellect” is a noun.
Where does the word “intellect” come from?
The word “intellect” comes from Latin. From Latin intellectus, "understanding," from intellegere, "to understand," literally "to choose between" (inter-, "between" + legere, "to gather, choose").
Is “intellect” a common word?
“Intellect” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
