Intelligence is the quality of being intelligent or clever.
She's a woman of exceptional intelligence.
Synonyms: intellect, understanding, brains [informal], mind More Synonyms of intelligence
2. uncountable noun
Intelligence is the ability to think, reason, and understand instead of doing things automatically or by instinct.
Nerve cells, after all, do not have intelligence of their own.
3. uncountable noun [oft NOUN noun]
Intelligence is information that is gathered by the government or the army about their country's enemies and their activities.
She first moved into the intelligence services 22 years ago.
The purpose of intelligence is to provide information on how the enemy can be beaten.
Why was military intelligence so lacking?
Synonyms: espionage, spying, surveillance, information gathering More Synonyms of intelligence
More Synonyms of intelligence
intelligence in British English
(ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns)
noun
1.
the capacity for understanding; ability to perceive and comprehend meaning
2.
good mental capacity
a person of intelligence
3. old-fashioned
news; information
4.
military information about enemies, spies, etc
5.
a group or department that gathers or deals with such information
6. (often capital)
an intelligent being, esp one that is not embodied
7. (modifier)
of or relating to intelligence
an intelligence network
Derived forms
intelligential (inˌtelliˈgential)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Latin intellegentia, from intellegere to discern, comprehend, literally: choose between, from inter- + legere to choose
intelligence in American English
(ɪnˈtɛlədʒəns)
noun
1.
a.
the ability to learn or understand from experience; ability to acquire and retain knowledge; mental ability
b.
the ability to respond quickly and successfully to a new situation; use of the faculty of reason in solving problems, directing conduct, etc. effectively
c. Psychology
measured success in using these abilities to perform certain tasks
d.
generally, any degree of keenness of mind, cleverness, shrewdness, etc.
2.
news or information
3.
a.
the gathering of secret information, as for military or police purposes
OFr < L intelligentia, perception, discernment < intelligens, prp. of intelligere: see intellect
COBUILD Collocations
intelligence
collect intelligence
glean intelligence
insult the intelligence of
military intelligence
secret intelligence
share intelligence
signals intelligence
specific intelligence
tactical intelligence
valuable intelligence
Examples of 'intelligence' in a sentence
intelligence
The hotel soon became the place to meet and discuss intelligence information.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
It comprises key ministers and senior military and intelligence officials.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He asked to see an Italian military intelligence officer.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The school said that it trusted in its students' reason and intelligence to tell good arguments from bad.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It emphasised that there was'absolutely no information or intelligence' suggesting an imminent threat.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They provide intelligence on enemy movements and pinpoint targets.
The Sun (2008)
They think that activity is a good substitute for intelligence.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is linked with intelligence and ability.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Yet official investigations into social mobility in this country persistently ignore intelligence.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They gained a footballer with intelligence and one or two faintly bohemian qualities.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There is credible local intelligence information to that effect.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The general intelligence of the person concerned apparently plays a relatively small part.
Salkie, Raphael The Chomsky Update - Linguistics and Politics (1990)
The military and intelligence chiefs from all three countries will follow up with talks tomorrow.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The meetings were also good for intelligence.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Now it becomes apparent that more than one intelligence is at work in the book.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
One security source called the information intelligence gold.
The Sun (2015)
Only good intelligence sits between us and more such atrocities.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Intelligence about the enemy is woeful.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You won't get anywhere in office life without building an intelligence network.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
When taking intelligence and ability tests, read through the instructions carefully and at your own pace.
Fletcher, Clive How to Face Interviews (1981)
Less predictably, the musical youths also scored higher in tests of verbal ability and visual intelligence.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He or she will have served in federal law enforcement, intelligence or the military and have been successful.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He hit back by suggesting that the row over who should be the country 's new intelligence chief was endangering its security.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He served with the Black Watch and the army intelligence corps.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Another country 's intelligence agency?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Quotations
Intelligence is characterised by a natural incomprehension of lifeHenri BergsonL'Évolution Créatrice
Intelligence in chains loses in lucidity what it gains in intensityAlbert CamusThe Rebel
The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to functionF. Scott FitzgeraldThe Crack-Up
Intelligence is quickness in seeing things as they areGeorge SantayanaThe Life of Reason: Reason in Common Sense
Intelligence ... is really a kind of taste: taste in ideasSusan SontagNotes on Camp
In other languages
intelligence
British English: intelligence /ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns/ NOUN
Your intelligence is your ability to understand and learn things.
...a man of exceptional intelligence.
American English: intelligence
Arabic: ذَكَاءٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: inteligência
Chinese: 智力
Croatian: inteligencija
Czech: inteligence
Danish: intelligens
Dutch: intelligentie
European Spanish: inteligencia
Finnish: älykkyys
French: intelligence
German: Intelligenz
Greek: ευφυΐα
Italian: intelligenza
Japanese: 知能
Korean: 지성
Norwegian: intelligens
Polish: inteligencja
European Portuguese: inteligência
Romanian: inteligență
Russian: интеллект
Latin American Spanish: inteligencia
Swedish: intelligens
Thai: สติปัญญา
Turkish: zeka
Ukrainian: інтелект
Vietnamese: trí thông minh
All related terms of 'intelligence'
glean intelligence
Intelligence is information that is gathered by the government or the army about their country's enemies and their activities.
intelligence agent
a person who works for an intelligence agency ; a spy
Intelligence Corps
a military department that gathers and analyzes information
intelligence test
any of a number of tests designed to measure a person's mental skills
intelligence work
spying
share intelligence
Intelligence is information that is gathered by the government or the army about their country's enemies and their activities.
swarm intelligence
the collective behaviour of a group of animals, esp social insects such as ants , bees , and termites , that are each following very basic rules
collect intelligence
Intelligence is information that is gathered by the government or the army about their country's enemies and their activities.
counter-intelligence
Counter-intelligence consists of actions that a country takes in order to find out whether another country is spying on it and to prevent it from doing so.
emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is used to refer to people's interpersonal and communication skills .
intelligence agency
a state organization that gathers or deals with information
intelligence failure
If there is a failure of something, for example a machine or part of the body, it goes wrong and stops working or developing properly.
intelligence gathering
the process of collecting information
Intelligence officer
a member of the Intelligence Corps
intelligence operation
An operation is a highly organized activity that involves many people doing different things.
intelligence quotient
Your IQ is your level of intelligence, as indicated by a special test that you do. IQ is an abbreviation for 'intelligence quotient'. Compare → EQ .
Intelligence Service
the government department that is responsible for collecting and analyzing information about enemies
machine intelligence
the study of the modelling of human mental functions by computer programs
marketing intelligence
information about markets that can be used in marketing
military intelligence
Intelligence is information that is gathered by the government or the army about their country's enemies and their activities.
secret intelligence
Intelligence is information that is gathered by the government or the army about their country's enemies and their activities.
signals intelligence
Intelligence is information that is gathered by the government or the army about their country's enemies and their activities.
social intelligence
the ability to form rewarding relationships with other people
specific intelligence
Intelligence is information that is gathered by the government or the army about their country's enemies and their activities.
tactical intelligence
Intelligence is the quality of being intelligent or clever .
valuable intelligence
Intelligence is information that is gathered by the government or the army about their country's enemies and their activities.
actionable intelligence
the necessary background information that will enable someone to deal quickly and efficiently with a particular situation
artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is a type of computer technology which is concerned with making machines work in an intelligent way, similar to the way that the human mind works. The abbreviation → AI is also used.
electronic intelligence
See elint
intelligence assessment
An assessment is a consideration of someone or something and a judgment about them.
intelligence information
Information about someone or something consists of facts about them.
Central Intelligence Agency
the agency of the federal government concerned with intelligence gathering and other activities involving national security
to do intelligence work
to serve in the Intelligence Corps ; to collect and analyze military information
insult the intelligence of
Intelligence is the quality of being intelligent or clever .
iq
Iraq
National Criminal Intelligence Service
(formerly) a policing agency which analysed and provided criminal intelligence
NCIS
National Criminal Intelligence Service
Chinese translation of 'intelligence'
intelligence
(ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns)
n(u)
(= intellect) 才智 (cáizhì)
(= understanding) 理解力 (lǐjiělì)
(Mil, = service) 情报(報)机(機)构(構) (qíngbào jīgòu)
(Mil, = information) 情报(報) (qíngbào)
1 (noun)
Definition
the ability to understand, learn, and think things out quickly
She's a woman of exceptional intelligence.
Synonyms
intellect
Do the emotions develop in parallel with the intellect?
understanding
They have to have a basic understanding of computers.
brains (informal)
mind
an excellent training for the young mind
reason
a conflict between emotion and reason
sense
When he was younger he had a bit more sense.
knowledge
the quest for scientific knowledge
capacity
smarts (slang, mainly US)
judgment
Publication of the information was a serious error in judgment.
wit
The information is there for anyone with the wit to use it.
perception
It did not require a great deal of perception to realise what he meant.
awareness
insight
He was a man of considerable insight and diplomatic skills.
penetration
comprehension
The situation was utterly beyond her comprehension.
brightness
Her brightness seemed quite intimidating to me.
aptitude
He discovered an aptitude for working in accounts.
acumen
Her sharp business acumen meant she quickly rose to the top.
nous (British, slang)
alertness
cleverness
He congratulated himself on his cleverness.
quickness
discernment
their lack of discernment and acceptance of inferior quality
grey matter (informal)
brain power
Opposites
understanding
,
ignorance
,
stupidity
,
dullness
2 (noun)
Definition
news or information
a senior officer involved in gathering intelligence
Synonyms
information
They refused to give us any information about her.
news
They still haven't had any news about the survivors.
facts
report
There were no reports of casualties.
findings
word
There is no word from the authorities on the reported attack.
notice
Unions are requested to give seven days' notice of industrial action.
advice
Most have now left the country on the advice of their governments.
knowledge
data
The survey was based on data from 2,100 patients.
disclosure
gen (British, informal)
tip-off
He was arrested after a tip-off to police by a member of the public.
low-down (informal)
We want you to give us the low-down on your team-mates.
notification
We require written notification from the person who signed the booking form.
rumour
There's a strange rumour going around.
tidings
heads up
Opposites
misinformation
,
concealment
3 (noun)
Definition
the collection of secret information, esp. for military purposes
Why was military intelligence so lacking?
Synonyms
espionage
The authorities have arrested several people suspected of espionage.
spying
a ten-year sentence for spying
surveillance
information gathering
counter-intelligence
undercover work
Quotations
Intelligence is characterised by a natural incomprehension of life [Henri Bergson – L'Évolution Créatrice]Intelligence in chains loses in lucidity what it gains in intensity [Albert Camus – The Rebel]The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function [F. Scott Fitzgerald – The Crack-Up]Intelligence is quickness in seeing things as they are [George Santayana – The Life of Reason: Reason in Common Sense]Intelligence ... is really a kind of taste: taste in ideas [Susan Sontag – Notes on Camp]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acumen
Definition
the ability to make good decisions
Her sharp business acumen meant she quickly rose to the top.
Synonyms
judgment,
intelligence,
perception,
wisdom,
insight,
wit,
ingenuity,
sharpness,
cleverness,
keenness,
shrewdness,
discernment,
perspicacity (formal),
sagacity,
smartness,
smarts (slang, US),
astuteness,
acuteness,
perspicuity
in the sense of advice
Definition
formal notification of facts
Most have now left the country on the advice of their governments.
Synonyms
instruction,
notification,
view,
information,
warning,
teaching,
notice,
word,
intelligence
in the sense of aptitude
Definition
natural tendency or ability
He discovered an aptitude for working in accounts.