intellect
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.”
How to use intellect
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person's ability to think, reason, and understand things clearly.
Intellect refers to the mental faculty itself, while intelligence often refers to how well that faculty performs or is measured.
Word forms
intellects plural
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
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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.