unintelligent

Unintelligent is an adjective used to describe someone or something that lacks intelligence or exhibits poor judgment. It can refer to cognitive ability, to decision-making, or to behavior that appears irrational or misguided. Because intelligence is a multidimensional construct, the label unintelligent is often subjective and context-dependent.

Etymology: The word is formed by the negative prefix un- attached to intelligent, the latter deriving from Latin intelligere 'to understand'.

Usage and connotation: In general, unintelligent is considered pejorative when applied to people and should be used with care. In formal or sensitive writing, it is common to substitute more precise terms such as not intelligent, lacking in intelligence, or having limited cognitive abilities. When describing animals, machines, or systems, scholars might opt for specific descriptors of cognitive performance rather than a blanket judgment.

Context and debates: Because intelligence is contested and multifaceted, what counts as unintelligent can vary by cultural, educational, and situational factors. The term is less common in scientific psychology, where researchers prefer terms that quantify aspects of intelligence or problem-solving ability rather than a blanket negation.

Related concepts: intelligence, cognitive ability, and related discussions of judgment and reasoning.