intelligence - Master This Word

intelligence Word Meanings

• The ability to learn and understand.
• Mental capacity for reasoning and problem-solving.
• The information gathered about enemy units or movements.

intelligence Example Sentences

Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.

• She has a lot of intelligence.
• His intelligence helps him solve problems.
• Animals can show signs of intelligence.
• Reading books can increase your intelligence.
• We should respect every kind of intelligence.

intelligence Word Etymology

From 'intelligentia' (Latin), where 'intelligere' means to 'perceive' (inter- = between + legere = to choose). It originated from Latin to Old French to Middle English. Imagine a wise old owl, representing intelligence, sitting high in a tree, perceiving everything around it.

English Brain Route

I lean in and move a pencil across the page, nudging ideas from one line to the next. A problem widens, and I shift my attention, turning questions over like a switch flips in my mind. The effort shows in my breath, every small adjustment a test, as I hold a thread of thought and pull it toward a new connection. That moving around in my head, deciding what fits, is what intelligence feels like when I use it to learn, plan, or read a situation.

Real Context

Intelligence means the capacity to learn, reason, and understand, and the ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. It includes mental agility, memory, pattern recognition, and the skill to adapt to new situations. People often speak of someone having high intelligence, quick thinking, or strong analytical abilities, but the term also covers practical judgment developed through experience. In everyday life it can describe school smarts, street smarts, or creative problem solving. In many fields, you will hear about intelligence in a military sense as information about enemy forces, movements, or capabilities gathered to support decisions. Learners should note the broad range of uses and avoid assuming intelligence is only about test scores.

Usage Reminders

• Intelligence covers both mental capacity and information about others.
• Use it with verbs like have, show, or rely on.
• Don't confuse it with 'IQ' or casual 'smart'.
• In military contexts, say 'military intelligence' or 'intelligence reports'.
• Common collocations include 'intelligence gathering' and 'artificial intelligence'.

Common Misconceptions

• Intelligence is only about IQ or test scores
• Intelligence equals knowledge or memory alone
• Intelligence is fixed at birth
• Intelligence means you will always do well in school
• Intelligence is the same as charm or wit

Thinking Differences

English tends to separate intelligence as both a personal capacity and a field of information; learners often assume it only means being smart or having a high IQ, which leads to underusing sentences like 'intelligence reports' or 'intelligence gathering'.

Learning Tips

• Practice both senses in context by writing sentences about learning (intelligence as ability) and gathering information (intelligence as data).
• Learn common collocations: intelligence gathering, intelligence analyst, military intelligence, artificial intelligence.
• Compare with related words: IQ, smart, clever, knowledgeable.
• Watch or read news about intelligence reports to see how the word is used in context.
• Learn to say 'intelligence community' and 'intelligence agency' appropriately.
• Be mindful of synonyms in different registers (academic vs military).

5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English

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