intelligencenoun
uk/ɪnˈtel.ɪ.dʒəns/us/ɪnˈtel.ə.dʒəns/intelligence noun (ABILITY)
B2 [ U ] the ability to learn, understand, and make judgments or have opinions that are based on reason:
an intelligence test
a child of high/average/low intelligence
It's the intelligence of her writing that impresses me.
More examples
- I can't believe that someone of his intelligence can read such trash!
- He believes that all children are born with equal intelligence.
- He is blessed with both good looks and intelligence.
- You can't do that, man - use your intelligence!
- She handled the situation with great intelligence and maturity.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Intelligence
- acuity
- acumen
- agile
- apt
- artful
- as (if) to the manner born idiom
- brilliance
- gumption
- highbrow
- horse sense
- imaginative
- ingenious
- profound
- quick-witted
- razor-sharp
- ready
- resource
- resourceful
- resourcefulness
- scholarly
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intelligence noun (SECRET INFORMATION)
[ U, + sing/pl verb ] secret information about the governments of other countries, especially enemy governments, or a group of people who collect and deal with this information:
the Central Intelligence Agency
military intelligence
They received intelligence (reports) that the factory was a target for the bombing.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
International relations: spying and espionage
- agent
- agent provocateur
- counter-espionage
- counterintelligence
- deep state
- MI5
- MI6
- on the inside idiom
- operative
- phone tapping
- quisling
- scout
- spook
- spy
- spy on sb/sth
- tail
- tap
- the CIA
- wired up
- wiretap
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