What does intelligentsia mean?
The intelligentsia is the educated, culturally engaged, and often influential intellectual class of a society. The term can refer to professionals, academics, writers, artists, and other educated people collectively, particularly when they are perceived as a social or cultural elite. It is especially common in political, historical, and cultural discussion, as in “the national intelligentsia,” and it may imply a degree of privilege or detachment from wider society. Because intelligentsia is primarily a collective noun, it is often treated as both singular and plural in agreement, although usage varies by speaker and region. The word can also carry an ironic edge when a group is portrayed as self-important or isolated from ordinary people. Originating in 19th-century Russia, it entered English during a period of intense interest in European intellectual movements and has since become a general term for an educated elite.
nounThe educated, culturally engaged, or professionally intellectual people of a society, especially those regarded as an intellectual or social elite.
- The educated, culturally influential, or intellectually engaged people of a society, especially when regarded as a social elite.
"The lecture was enthusiastically received by the local intelligentsia."
"Members of the intelligentsia gathered to discuss the country's economic future."
"The novel offers a sharply observed portrait of provincial intelligentsia."
The noun is commonly used collectively and may be treated as singular or plural in agreement; plural agreement is especially frequent in British English.
"The country's intelligentsia welcomed the new cultural initiative."
Born in 19th-century Russia as the name of a Westernizing intellectual class, intelligentsia became a global label for society's educated elite.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intelligentsia come from?
The English word was borrowed in the 19th century from Russian intelligentsiya, originally a collective designation for the educated and Westernizing intellectuals of the Russian Empire. Russian intelligentsiya was formed from intelligent, which is related to Latin intellegere, meaning “to understand,” and Latin intelligentia, meaning “intelligence.” English cognates include intelligent, intelligence, intelligible, and intellect.
How intelligentsia is actually used
The word is formal and often intellectual in tone. It can suggest privilege, cultural authority, or distance from ordinary life, and may be used ironically. Its collective status can lead speakers to disagree over whether it takes singular or plural agreement.
Easily confused with intelligentsia
Intelligence is the capacity to acquire and apply knowledge, whereas intelligentsia refers collectively to educated or intellectually influential people.