the capacity for understanding; ability to perceive and comprehend meaning news; information military information about enemies, spies, etc a group or department that gathers or deals with such information - (often capital)
an intelligent being, esp one that is not embodied - (modifier)
of or relating to intelligence: an intelligence network
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
in•tel•li•gence /ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Psychologycapacity for learning, reasoning, and understanding:Do computers have any intelligence?
- mental alertness or quickness of understanding:writes with intelligence and wit.
- Government, news received or given, esp. about an enemy.
- Governmentan organization that gathers such information:military intelligence.
in•tel•li•gence
(in tel′i jəns),USA pronunciation n.
- Psychologycapacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity;
aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc. - manifestation of a high mental capacity:He writes with intelligence and wit.
- the faculty of understanding.
- Governmentknowledge of an event, circumstance, etc., received or imparted;
news;
information. - Governmentthe gathering or distribution of information, esp. secret information.
- Government
- information about an enemy or a potential enemy.
- the evaluated conclusions drawn from such information.
- an organization or agency engaged in gathering such information:military intelligence; naval intelligence.
- Governmentinterchange of information:They have been maintaining intelligence with foreign agents for years.
- Religion[Christian Science.]a fundamental attribute of God, or infinite Mind.
- (often cap.) an intelligent being or spirit, esp. an incorporeal one, as an angel.
- Latin intelligentia. See intelligent, -ence
- Middle English 1350–1400
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See mind.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged discernment, reason, acumen, aptitude, penetration.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged stupidity.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'Intelligence Service' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):