What does "genius" mean?
Someone possessing extraordinary intelligence or skill; especially somebody who has demonstrated this by a creative or original work in science, music, art, etc.
Genius
/ˈd͡ʒiː.ni.əs/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Someone possessing extraordinary intelligence or skill; especially somebody who has demonstrated this by a creative or original work in science, music, art, etc.
- Grammar: genius is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: brain, brainiac, brilliance, einstein.
- Useful contrasts: dumbest, goony, obtuse.
- Usage evidence: In general, it may be said that he is a genius in music.
How to use "genius"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "genius" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "genius" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "genius" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "genius" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "genius" is acting as adj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "brain" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "genius", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Someone possessing extraordinary intelligence or skill; especially somebody who has demonstrated this by a creative or original work in science, music, art, etc. countable
"She's a genius; she won a Nobel Prize at fifteen!"
- 2 unusual mental ability wordnet
- 3 Extraordinary mental capacity. uncountable
"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."
- 4 a natural talent wordnet
- 5 Inspiration, a mental leap, an extraordinary creative process. uncountable
"a work of genius"
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 exceptional creative ability wordnet
- 7 The tutelary deity or spirit of a place or person. Roman, also, countable, figuratively
"and the genius of the place: the growing enthusiasm for codified standards in the Army and Navy"
- 8 someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field wordnet
- 9 someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Ingenious, brilliant, very clever, or original. informal
"What a genius idea!"
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"In general, it may be said that he is a genius in music."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "genius"?
Common synonyms include: brain, brainiac, brilliance, einstein, mastermind, a per se.
How do you use "genius" in a sentence?
In general, it may be said that he is a genius in music.
How do you pronounce "genius"?
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒiː.ni.əs/.
Etymology
From Latin genius (“inborn nature; a tutelary deity of a person or place; wit, brilliance”), from gignō (“to beget, produce”), Old Latin genō, from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵenh₁-. Doublet of genio. See also genus and genie.