Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having or showing the ability to easily learn, understand, or think about things; bright or clever. This is the core meaning, describing a person or entity with a high mental capacity.
   • Able to process information and use knowledge effectively; showing good judgment or sound reasoning. This meaning focuses on the practical application of intelligence, often in solving problems or making decisions.
   • Endowed with intellect or consciousness, especially to a high degree. This meaning is often used in contexts like science or philosophy to discuss entities capable of complex thought.

Usage Examples

• Describing a person's mental ability:
  • She is an intelligent student who grasps new concepts quickly.
  • The interview panel was looking for an intelligent and creative candidate.
• Describing a decision, solution, or action:
  • The engineer proposed an intelligent design that saved both materials and time.
  • Investing in education is an intelligent choice for a country's future.
• Describing non-human entities or systems:
  • Scientists are searching for signs of intelligent life on other planets.
  • The new software uses intelligent algorithms to predict user behavior.

Advanced Usage

• "Intelligent design": A controversial concept proposing that certain features of the universe and living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process like natural selection.
  • The debate over evolution versus intelligent design continues in some school districts.
• "Intelligent agent" (in computing/artificial intelligence): A system that perceives its environment and takes actions to achieve goals.
  • An intelligent agent in a smart home can manage heating and lighting based on occupancy.

Variants and Related Words

• Intelligence (n): The general ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
  • Her intelligence and hard work led to her promotion.
• Intelligently (adv): In a way that shows intelligence.
  • He intelligently redirected the conversation to a safer topic.
• Intelligentsia (n): The group of people in a society who are highly educated and interested in culture, ideas, and intellectual activities.
  • The novel was popular among the intelligentsia.

Synonyms

• Clever: Quick to understand, learn, and devise ideas.
• Bright: Intelligent and quick-witted.
• Smart: Having or showing a quick-witted intelligence (often very similar to 'intelligent' in American English).
• Astute: Having an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage.
• Rational: Based on or in accordance with reason or logic.

Antonyms

• Stupid: Lacking intelligence or common sense.
• Unintelligent: Not intelligent.
• Foolish: Lacking good sense or judgment; unwise.
• Irrational: Not logical or reasonable.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• (To be) intelligent about something: To be knowledgeable or act wisely regarding a specific matter.
  • You need to be intelligent about how you manage your finances.
• Artificially Intelligent: Possessing intelligence demonstrated by machines, as opposed to natural intelligence shown by humans and animals.
  • The car features an artificially intelligent navigation system.

Adjective

1. endowed with the capacity to reason
2. exercising or showing good judgment
   • healthy scepticism
   • a healthy fear of rattlesnakes
   • the healthy attitude of French laws
   • healthy relations between labor and management
   • an intelligent solution
   • a sound approach to the problem
   • sound advice
   • no sound explanation for his decision
3. possessing sound knowledge
   • well-informed readers
4. having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree
   • is there intelligent life in the universe?
   • an intelligent question