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intelligence

noun
in路​tel路​li路​gence | \ in-藞te-l蓹-j蓹n(t)s How to pronounce intelligence (audio) \

Definition of intelligence

1a(1) : the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations : reason also : the skilled use of reason
(2) : the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (such as tests)
c : mental acuteness : shrewdness
b Christian Science : the basic eternal quality of divine Mind
2a : information, news
b : information concerning an enemy or possible enemy or an area also : an agency engaged in obtaining such information
3 : the act of understanding : comprehension
4 : the ability to perform computer functions
5a : intelligent minds or mind cosmic intelligence
b : an intelligent entity especially : angel
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Examples of intelligence in a Sentence

She impressed us with her superior intelligence. a person of average intelligence gathering intelligence about a neighboring country's activities
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Rusian intelligence officials who have crossed Putin have been targeted in the past. — Author: Shane Harris, Ellen Nakashima, Anchorage Daily News, "US got key source out of Russia after election hacking and Trump meeting with Kremlin official," 10 Sep. 2019 My crude language model answered the question correctly without any intelligence other than word associations on the web. — Wired, "AI Can Pass Standardized Tests鈥擝ut It Would Fail Preschool," 10 Sep. 2019 That in itself takes a courage and intelligence that typified Marina. — Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, "Remembering Marina Schiano: Model, Muse, and Magnate," 10 Sep. 2019 American intelligence officials have made the same conclusion. — David E. Sanger, New York Times, "Israeli Leader Says Iran Hid a Nuclear Weapons Site," 9 Sep. 2019 But intelligence officials said that the public release of the photo disclosed the capability of U.S. spy cameras trained on Iran. — David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, "Trump and the hurricane: A lesson in three acts," 6 Sep. 2019 Facebook and Google executives met with U.S. intelligence officials on Wednesday to discuss the technology industry鈥檚 security efforts leading up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, according to a person familiar with the talks. — Kurt Wagner, Fortune, "Facebook and Google Met With U.S. Intelligence About Online Security for the 2020 Presidential Election," 4 Sep. 2019 Conversations tend to be more open and vulnerable, empowerment creates a landscape of growth and friendship, and emotional intelligence tends to lead the space. — Heather Balogh Rochfort, The Know, "Why women-only adventure travel is surging," 31 Aug. 2019 The engine that propelled this along day after day, month after month, was the national media, who, among other things, trotted out some very high level former intelligence officials who told us on many occasions that Trump had committed treason. — Letter Writers, Twin Cities, "Letters: Contrary to Soucheray鈥檚 claim, Ramsey County budget is in plain language, with performance measurements," 22 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intelligence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of intelligence

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

History and Etymology for intelligence

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin intelligentia, from intelligent-, intelligens intelligent

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More Definitions for intelligence

intelligence

noun
How to pronounce intelligence (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of intelligence

: the ability to learn or understand things or to deal with new or difficult situations
: secret information that a government collects about an enemy or possible enemy also : a government organization that collects such information

See the full definition for intelligence in the English Language Learners Dictionary

intelligence

noun
in路​tel路​li路​gence | \ in-藞te-l蓹-j蓹ns How to pronounce intelligence (audio) \

Kids Definition of intelligence

1 : the ability to learn and understand The test measures intelligence.
2 : secret information collected about an enemy or a possible enemy

intelligence

noun
in路​tel路​li路​gence | \ in-藞tel-蓹-j蓹n(t)s How to pronounce intelligence (audio) \

Medical Definition of intelligence

1a : the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations
b : the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as tests)
2 : mental acuteness

Other Words from intelligence

intelligent \ in-​藞tel-​蓹-​j蓹nt How to pronounce intelligent (audio) \ adjective
intelligently

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