intelligentsia Hear it!

intelligentsia definition

in·tel·li·gentsia (in tel′ə jent′sē ə; esp. formerly, -gent′-)

plural noun

the people regarded as, or regarding themselves as, the educated and enlightened class; intellectuals collectively

Etymology: Russ intelligentsiya < L intelligentia: see intelligence

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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