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
Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 12 July 2024
Escola has incorporated significant personal material in their Mary Todd, including alcoholism and addiction, depression and mental health, the struggles of being adored but obscure, and a passion for what is seen as a lesser and less intellectual art form.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 12 July 2024
Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2024
In 2005, Chomsky was voted the world’s top public intellectual in a global poll.
—Chad De Guzman, TIME, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for intellectual 
Adjective
The pursuit of technology that can replace humans at most intellectual work drives most of the enduring hype over the firm, even though such a technology would likely be wildly disruptive to society.
—Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 12 July 2024
Escola has incorporated significant personal material in their Mary Todd, including alcoholism and addiction, depression and mental health, the struggles of being adored but obscure, and a passion for what is seen as a lesser and less intellectual art form.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 12 July 2024
Noun
The order originated with Adam Weishaupt, a professor and philosopher at the University of Ingolstadt, who wanted to spread the ideas of the Enlightenment to the intellectuals and elites of the future.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2024
In 2005, Chomsky was voted the world’s top public intellectual in a global poll.
—Chad De Guzman, TIME, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for intellectual
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intellectual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Intellectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intellectual. Accessed 21 Jul. 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
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