What does mensa mean?
Mensa is an international organization for people who have scored at or above the 98th percentile on a qualifying intelligence test. Its name comes from the Latin word meaning “table,” reflecting the founders' conception of exceptional people gathering around a shared table. In contemporary use, the capitalized form almost always refers to the organization or one of its national chapters. It is also associated with puzzles, debates, social gatherings, and other activities intended for intellectually curious participants. Mensa should be used carefully in general discussion: membership indicates a particular test result, not universal intellectual superiority or achievement in every field. A much rarer English sense of the same word denotes a table used for eating, especially in a monastic setting. This older sense is uncommon in modern general English but survives in formal and historical contexts.
nounMensa is an international organization whose membership is open to people who attain a score at or above the 98th percentile on a qualifying intelligence test. The capitalized proper noun should not be used as a synonym for intelligence or brilliance.
- An international organization that admits people who score at or above the 98th percentile on a qualifying intelligence test.
- Rarely, a table at which people, especially monks, eat.
"She joined Mensa after earning a score in the top two percent of the test results."
"The lecture attracted members of Mensa from across the country."
"The monks gathered around the mensa for their midday meal."
The plural is uncommon. When referring collectively to people affiliated with the organization, “members of Mensa” is usually clearer than “Mensans.”
"The event drew members from several Mensas and affiliated chapters."
The name Mensa comes from the Latin word for “table,” chosen for the idea of exceptionally capable people gathering around one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mensa come from?
The organizational name Mensa was adopted in the 1960s and derives from the Latin mensa, meaning “table.” The founders associated the word with a table around which intelligent people could gather. The Latin word itself belongs to an older family of words associated with tables and meals, while the rare English noun mensa refers to a dining table, especially one in a monastery.
Related word forms
How mensa is actually used
Mensa is normally capitalized because it names an organization. The organization's name should not be treated as evidence that a person is broadly gifted, since membership reflects performance on a particular test rather than every aspect of ability.