- the ability to learn, understand and think in a logical way about things; the ability to do this well
- a person of high/average/low intelligence
- He didn't even have the intelligence to call for an ambulance.
- As a director, he tends to underestimate the intelligence of his audience.
- Please don't insult my intelligence by lying to me.
Extra Examples- At least she had the intelligence to turn off the gas.
- This essay shows considerable intelligence.
- I always thought of him as a man of limited intelligence.
- Is it really possible to measure intelligence?
- Most people of average intelligence would find this task quite difficult.
- Perhaps I underestimated your intelligence.
- Wakefulness in a baby is sometimes seen as a sign of intelligence.
- You will not be expected to know a great deal but you will need to show your intelligence.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- great
- high
- …
- have
- demonstrate
- show
- …
- test
Definitions on the go
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- secret information that is collected, for example about a foreign country, especially one that is an enemy; the people that collect this information
- the head of military intelligence
- the collection of foreign intelligence
- the director of national intelligence
- intelligence on somebody/something They hope to gather more intelligence on any further plots.
- intelligence about somebody/something We've obtained secret intelligence about enemy plans.
- intelligence from somebody/something The government had intelligence from several different sources.
- intelligence agencies/services
- an intelligence officer/official/agent
- the intelligence community (= all the people that collect this information)
- intelligence sources (= people who give this information)
- intelligence reports
Extra Examples- She works for the French intelligence service.
- His unit was responsible for intelligence gathering in North Africa.
- the use of human intelligence (= information collected by people) in foiling terrorist attacks
- Military intelligence is gathered using sophisticated technology.
- The FBI and the CIA need to share intelligence on terrorism.
- Intelligence sources report that a terrorist attack is highly probable.
- The two countries agreed to exchange intelligence information to fight against terrorism.
- We have learned important lessons from the intelligence failures that preceded the terrorist attacks.
- Congress created permanent intelligence committees in both houses.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- secret
- good
- reliable
- …
- collect
- gather
- get
- …
- agency
- community
- service
- …
Word Originlate Middle English: via Old French from Latin intelligentia, from intelligere ‘understand’, from inter ‘between’ + legere ‘choose’.
Check pronunciation:
intelligence