intelligent

adjective

in·​tel·​li·​gent in-ˈte-lə-jənt How to pronounce intelligent (audio)
1
a
: having or indicating a high or satisfactory degree of intelligence and mental capacity
b
: revealing or reflecting good judgment or sound thought : skillful
2
a
: possessing intelligence
b
: guided or directed by intellect : rational
3
a
: guided or controlled by a computer
especially : smart sense 7c compare dumb sense 7
b
: able to produce printed material from digital signals
an intelligent copier
intelligential adjective
intelligently adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for intelligent

intelligent, clever, alert, quick-witted mean mentally keen or quick.

intelligent stresses success in coping with new situations and solving problems.

an intelligent person could assemble it fast

clever implies native ability or aptness and sometimes suggests a lack of more substantial qualities.

clever with words

alert stresses quickness in perceiving and understanding.

alert to new technology

quick-witted implies promptness in finding answers in debate or in devising expedients in moments of danger or challenge.

no match for his quick-witted opponent

Examples of intelligent in a Sentence

She asked some intelligent questions. He's a hard worker but he's not very intelligent.
Recent Examples on the Web This is a piece of intelligent cinema entertainment that should resonate with buyers in many markets. Lise Pedersen, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 It’s bolted to a 9 speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and then routed into an all wheel drive traction control system, with intelligent traction management and hill start assist. Tony Leopardo, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024 But back before 2010, 2012, people were coding all these things by hand to try and have machines do more intelligent tasks. Lauren Goode, WIRED, 29 Feb. 2024 The only point of concern, unfortunately, is Chalamet: His performance in Part One was both passionate and intelligent. Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024 Even the mayor, and the governor, despite constantly emphasizing a need to build their way out, can’t get past local control and the objections of highly intelligent, affluent residents. Alena Botros, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 More intelligent hiring keeps teams lean, focused and driven. Al Khan, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Bar-On also conducted a study on university students, finding that the most successful pupils tended to be more emotionally and socially intelligent and that emotion management is vital to academic success. Jazmin Towe, Parents, 27 Feb. 2024 The discovery of this early adhesive in what is now southwest France—consistent with past discoveries of similar substances made by early modern humans in Africa—supports theories that our Neanderthal relatives were more intelligent, adaptive and utilitarian than many give them credit for. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intelligent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin intelligent-, intelligens, present participle of intelligere, intellegere to understand, from inter- + legere to gather, select — more at legend

First Known Use

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of intelligent was circa 1540

Dictionary Entries Near intelligent

Cite this Entry

“Intelligent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intelligent. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

intelligent

adjective
in·​tel·​li·​gent in-ˈtel-ə-jənt How to pronounce intelligent (audio)
1
a
: possessing intelligence
humans are intelligent beings
b
: showing a higher than average degree of intelligence
an intelligent student
c
: revealing or reflecting good judgment or sound thought
an intelligent decision
2
: able to perform computing tasks : controlled by a computer
an intelligent terminal
intelligently adverb

Legal Definition

intelligent

adjective
in·​tel·​li·​gent
: having or indicating a high or satisfactory degree of intelligence and mental capacity
especially : having or indicating an understanding of the nature and consequences of an act or decision
a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel
compare knowing

Note: Under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), a waiver of rights must be knowing and intelligent.

intelligently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on intelligent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!