1. The educated and intellectual class of a society, especially those engaged in cultural, artistic, or political pursuits.
Usage: Usually used as a collective noun (singular or plural); Often refers to intellectuals as a social group with shared interests or influence

Examples

• The Russian intelligentsia played a crucial role in the cultural movements of the 19th century.
• Members of the intelligentsia often debate social and political issues in academic journals.
• The intelligentsia criticized the government's education policies.
• She was part of the artistic intelligentsia in Paris during the 1920s.
• The intelligentsia tends to value knowledge and critical thinking above all else.