in·tel·lec·tu·al
ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wəl 
-chəl,
-shwəl,
-chü(-ə)l
1
2
a
: given to study, reflection, and speculation
b
: engaged in activity requiring the creative use of the intellect
intellectual playwrights
1
: an intellectual person
2
intellectuals plural, archaic
: intellectual powers
Synonyms
Examples of intellectual in a Sentence
Adjective
the social and intellectual life of the campus
as the daughter of college professors, she's used to being around intellectual people
Noun
He thinks that he's an intellectual, but he doesn't know what he's talking about.
She's a hard worker but she's no great intellectual.
a café where artists and intellectuals mingle
Recent Examples on the Web
Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
The aim, according to its course description, is to use her work as a lens through which to examine Black intellectual thought and activism.
—Angela Yang, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
Flora Garamvolgyi, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2024
Other artists, writers and intellectuals sought to counter the industrial status quo.
—Anne Wallentine, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for intellectual 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Based out of West Valley College in Saratoga, the College of Adaptive Arts is a nonprofit that provides college programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
The aim, according to its course description, is to use her work as a lens through which to examine Black intellectual thought and activism.
—Angela Yang, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
Noun
Through cooperation with right-wing intellectuals abroad, the Danube Institute has proved instrumental in promoting the culturally conservative vision of Orbán's Hungary.
—Flora Garamvolgyi, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2024
Other artists, writers and intellectuals sought to counter the industrial status quo.
—Anne Wallentine, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for intellectual
Articles Related to intellectual
Dictionary Entries Near intellectual
Cite this Entry
“Intellectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intellectual. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
intellectual
1 of 2 adjective
in·tel·lec·tu·al
ˌint-ᵊl-ˈek-ch(ə-w)əl
1
: relating to the intellect or understanding
2
: having intellect to a high degree : engaged in or given to learning and thinking
an intellectual person
3
: requiring study and thought
intellectual games
intellectual
2 of 2 noun
: an intellectual person
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share