What does intellect mean?
Word: Intellect
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Intellect means the power of the mind to think, reason and understand ideas.
Synonyms: mind, reason, brainpower
How do you spell intellect?
Syllables: in - tel - lect
Tricky part: The word ends with a c before the t, so intellet is a common slip.
Watch out for: intellet, intellekt, intelleckt
Memory tip: Like perfect and insect, intellect ends in -ect, with the c written before the t.
Intellect in a sentence
Example 1: Her sharp intellect helped her finish the puzzle before anyone else.
Example 2: Reading widely feeds the intellect as food feeds the body.
Example 3: Debating clubs give students a chance to test their intellect.
Fun Fact
In English, intellect has meant the thinking power of the mind for over 600 years, and its close relative intellectual later also became a word for a person who loves ideas.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word intellect as used in the sentence:
Chess grandmasters are famous for their powerful intellect.
a) intelligence
b) temper
c) strength
d) patience
Show answer
a) intelligence. Intellect is the thinking power of a person, which is intelligence, not a mood or a muscle.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Even as a child, the famous scientist was admired for his intelect, and he spent hours in the library reading about stars and planets.
a) library
b) planets
c) intelect
d) scientist
Show answer
c) intelect. Intellect, like intelligent, has two l's after inte.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word:
1. intellect 2. ocassion 3. seperate 4. comittee
a) apart from others; not joined
b) a particular time when something happens
c) the thinking and reasoning power of a person
d) a group chosen to make decisions
Show answer
c) the thinking and reasoning power of a person. Comittee is short of an m, ocassion doubles the s instead of the c, and seperate has an e where an a belongs; intellect is the only correct word.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Even at ninety, Grandma's nlelcetti was as sharp as ever.
a) intersect
b) interject
c) intellect
d) intelligent
Show answer
c) intellect. There is no r, j, s or g in the jumble, so only intellect can be made from it.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A person of great intellect is ____.
a) slow to trust others
b) quick to lose their temper
c) eager to win praise
d) quick to grasp hard problems
Show answer
d) quick to grasp hard problems
2. Which activity uses your intellect the most?
a) lifting a heavy box
b) planning a science project
c) painting a fence white
d) running a long race
Show answer
b) planning a science project
