1
: a number used to express the apparent relative intelligence of a person: such as
a
: a score determined by one's performance on a standardized intelligence test relative to the average performance of others of the same age
b
: the ratio of the mental age (as reported on a standardized test) to the chronological age multiplied by 100
2
: proficiency in or knowledge of a specified subject
nobody questioned his hockey IQ
the same as
Examples of IQ in a Sentence
Noun
They wanted me to take an IQ test.
he has a movie IQ that is off the charts
Recent Examples on the Web
Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024
The recall was issued by Tandem Diabetes Care over version 2.7 of the t:connect mobile app that pairs with the t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control IQ technology.
—Korin Miller, Verywell Health, 15 May 2024
Presented with Malone’s IQ compliment and Gordon’s recent anointment of genius status, Jokic placed his head in his hands.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 15 May 2024
New York City topped the list of the world's worst air quality rankings by a landslide, according to IQ Air.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 13 May 2024
Although measures of human intelligence are controversial, IQ tests can provide an initial baseline to assess one dimension.
—Edmon Begoli, IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2024
While there’s been an incremental upward drift in IQ test scores — approximately 3 points per decade — across generations, that may reflect improvement in education, life experiences and test-taking, not intelligence.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
But thanks to Aaron Gordon being everywhere and Jokic’s hoops IQ, the latter didn’t pick up another foul the rest of the first half as the Nuggets hung around.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2024
Senior Analyst Manager: $191,000 a year Company: Agent IQ
Work type: Remote
This position leads a team of analytic engineers who focus on the date culture of the company.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2024
Noun
And among hundreds of pregnant women in Mexico, a 0.5-mg-per-liter increase in urinary fluoride went along with a 2.5-point drop in IQ scores for their 6- to 12-year-old children, researchers reported in 2017.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024
The recall was issued by Tandem Diabetes Care over version 2.7 of the t:connect mobile app that pairs with the t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control IQ technology.
—Korin Miller, Verywell Health, 15 May 2024
Presented with Malone’s IQ compliment and Gordon’s recent anointment of genius status, Jokic placed his head in his hands.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 15 May 2024
New York City topped the list of the world's worst air quality rankings by a landslide, according to IQ Air.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 13 May 2024
Although measures of human intelligence are controversial, IQ tests can provide an initial baseline to assess one dimension.
—Edmon Begoli, IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2024
While there’s been an incremental upward drift in IQ test scores — approximately 3 points per decade — across generations, that may reflect improvement in education, life experiences and test-taking, not intelligence.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
But thanks to Aaron Gordon being everywhere and Jokic’s hoops IQ, the latter didn’t pick up another foul the rest of the first half as the Nuggets hung around.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2024
Senior Analyst Manager: $191,000 a year Company: Agent IQ
Work type: Remote
This position leads a team of analytic engineers who focus on the date culture of the company.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'IQ.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near IQ
Cite this Entry
“IQ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/IQ. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
IQ
noun
: a number that is often used as a measure of a person's intelligence and is found by dividing the mental age of the person as given by a score on a special test by the age in years and multiplying by 100
Etymology
Noun
intelligence quotient
Medical Definition
IQ
noun
: a number used to express the apparent relative intelligence of a person based on the results of standardized testing: as
a
: the ratio of the mental age (as reported on a standardized test) to the chronological age multiplied by 100
b
: a score determined by one's performance on a standardized intelligence test relative to the average performance of others of the same age
Etymology
Noun
intelligence quotient
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share