intelligence
High (B2)Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
The ability to acquire, understand, and apply knowledge and skills; the capacity for logic, reasoning, understanding, learning, and problem-solving.
1. Information, especially of military, political, or commercial value, collected and processed by an organisation. 2. A group or department engaged in gathering such information (e.g., military intelligence). 3. (In theology/philosophy) A spiritual or incorporeal being, especially an angelic being.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core meaning centres on cognitive ability. The 'information' meaning is a metonymic extension, common in institutional contexts. Rarely used to refer to intelligent beings (archaic/formal).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The institutional sense (e.g., MI5, MI6) is more culturally central in UK discourse. In the US, the abbreviation 'IQ' (Intelligence Quotient) is slightly more prevalent in everyday talk about cognitive ability.
Connotations
In both varieties, the institutional sense carries connotations of secrecy and state power. The core meaning is generally positive, though can imply cunning in certain contexts (e.g., 'animal intelligence').
Frequency
The word is highly frequent in both varieties with near-identical frequency profiles.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
intelligence on [something]intelligence about [something]intelligence that [clause][possessive] intelligenceintelligence of [a being] (archaic)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the intelligence community”
- “a person of (great) intelligence”
- “to gather/collect intelligence”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to data analysis for strategic decision-making (e.g., 'market intelligence', 'business intelligence').
Academic
Central in psychology, cognitive science, and AI research, often qualified (e.g., 'fluid intelligence', 'crystallised intelligence').
Everyday
Used to describe a person's smartness or the act of finding out information (e.g., 'She has remarkable intelligence.', 'I need some intelligence on the new neighbours.').
Technical
In computing, specifically 'Artificial Intelligence' (AI). In military/politics, refers to collected secret information and the agencies that handle it.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- He nodded intelligently, showing he understood the complex issue.
- The system is intelligently designed to adapt to user behaviour.
American English
- She answered the question intelligently and concisely.
- The robot moved intelligently around the obstacles.
adjective
British English
- The debate required an intelligent, well-informed audience.
- She made an intelligent decision to invest early.
American English
- That was a really intelligent play by the quarterback.
- We need an intelligent approach to this problem.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Dolphins are animals with high intelligence.
- The teacher said I have good intelligence for maths.
- Artificial intelligence is changing many jobs.
- The spy was sent to gather intelligence about the enemy.
- His emotional intelligence allowed him to resolve the conflict peacefully.
- The agency's failure to share critical intelligence had disastrous consequences.
- The theory posits multiple, distinct facets of human intelligence beyond a single 'g' factor.
- A leak of classified intelligence can severely compromise national security operations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of INTELLIGENCE as being 'in-telling' – someone who is 'in the know' because they understand and process information well.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTELLIGENCE IS LIGHT ('a bright student', 'a brilliant mind', 'enlightened'), INTELLIGENCE IS A SHARP TOOL ('a sharp mind', 'a keen intellect'), INTELLIGENCE IS A CONTAINER ('full of intelligence', 'a wealth of intelligence').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'интеллект' as only 'intellect' – 'intelligence' is a broader, more common term for general cognitive ability. 'Intellect' is more formal and narrowly philosophical.
- The Russian 'разведка' maps directly to the 'information/agency' sense of 'intelligence', not the cognitive sense.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'intelligent' as a noun (*'He is an intelligent.'). 'Intelligent' is only an adjective. The noun is 'an intelligent person' or 'a person of intelligence'.
- Confusing 'intelligence' (ability) with 'intellect' (the faculty of reasoning). 'Intellect' is more abstract and less used for individuals.
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'intelligence' LEAST refer to cognitive ability?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Intelligence' is a broader, more general term for cognitive ability, often measurable. 'Intellect' refers more specifically to the power of reasoning and abstract thought, and is used in more formal or philosophical contexts.
Primarily uncountable when referring to the cognitive ability (e.g., 'She has great intelligence'). It can be countable when referring to a spiritual being (archaic) or, humorously, to an intelligent person (e.g., 'He is one of the great intelligences of our time'). The information sense is uncountable.
No. The adjective form is 'intelligent'. 'Intelligence' is solely a noun. Do not say '*an intelligence system'; say 'an intelligent system' (if it's smart) or 'an intelligence-gathering system' (if it collects information).
'IQ' (Intelligence Quotient) traditionally measures cognitive/logical-mathematical intelligence. 'EQ' (Emotional Quotient) refers to Emotional Intelligence – the ability to perceive, use, understand, and manage emotions effectively in oneself and others. They are considered complementary forms of intelligence.
Collections
Part of a collection
Science and Technology
B1 · 47 words · Basic scientific concepts and modern technology.
Abstract Thinking
B2 · 49 words · Words for ideas, reasoning and intellectual concepts.
Psychology Basics
B2 · 50 words · Fundamental concepts in human psychology.