Genius

/ˈd͡ʒiː.ni.əs/ · noun

Meaning

(countable) Someone possessing extraordinary intelligence or skill; especially somebody who has demonstrated this by a creative or original work in science, music, art, etc..

Definitions by Sense

1. (countable) Someone possessing extraordinary intelligence or skill; especially somebody who has demonstrated this by a creative or original work in science, music, art, etc.
2. (uncountable) Extraordinary mental capacity.
3. (uncountable) Inspiration, a mental leap, an extraordinary creative process.
4. (countable, Roman mythology, also figuratively) The tutelary deity or spirit of a place or person.
5. (informal) Ingenious, brilliant, very clever, or original.

Example Sentences

She's a genius; she won a Nobel Prize at fifteen!

Marx stand höher, sah weiter, überblickte mehr und rascher als wir andern alle. Marx war ein Genie, wir andern höchstens Talente.

Excuse, therefore, the shortcomings of genius under the sudorific influence of the summer solstice; for be assured that the vertical sun, however it may dulcify and mature cherries, plums, and other fruitful ‘plumpitudes,’ is by no means favorable to the development of intellectual products.

In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned.

a work of genius

to add a dash of cinnamon amid such umami was pure genius

and the genius of the place: the growing enthusiasm for codified standards in the Army and Navy

We talk of genius still, but with thought how changed! The genius of Augustus was a tutelary demon, to be sworn by and to receive offerings on an altar as a deity.

Synonyms for genius

Antonyms for genius

Related Words

Word Forms

• geniuses
• genii
• more genius
• most genius

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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