Origin: Latin suffix -ence
Intelligence has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
"After years of managing crises, her intelligence allowed her to anticipate problems before they even arose."
a unit responsible for gathering and interpreting information about an enemy
"The military intelligence unit spent weeks analyzing intercepted communications to predict the enemy's next move."
secret information about an enemy (or potential enemy)
"we sent out planes to gather intelligence on their radar coverage"
information about recent and important events
"they awaited news of the outcome"
the operation of gathering information about an enemy
"The agency's intelligence team spent weeks tracking the smugglers' routes before launching the raid."
Capacity of mind, especially to understand principles, truths, facts or meanings, acquire knowledge, and apply it to practice; the ability to comprehend and learn.
"Her intelligence allowed her to quickly grasp complex scientific theories and apply them to solve real-world problems."
In plain English: Intelligence is the ability to learn quickly, solve problems, and use your knowledge to adapt to new situations.
"The teacher praised the student's intelligence for solving the difficult math problem so quickly."
Usage: Use intelligence to describe the natural capacity to understand complex ideas, learn quickly, and solve problems effectively. It refers to the overall mental ability of a person rather than specific skills like memory or creativity alone.
The word "intelligence" traveled into English via Middle and Old French from the Latin intelligentia. It originally combined elements meaning "between" and "to choose or read," reflecting a sense of careful selection or understanding.