The Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is cerebral. Read on for what it means, how it’s used, and more.

What It Means

Cerebral means “of or relating to the brain or intellect,” or “primarily intellectual in nature.”

// The study is on the cerebral functions of infants.

// The movie is a cerebral thriller that rewards the viewer’s careful attention with intricate plot turns.

CEREBRAL in Context

“Exceedingly unselfish, Citron’s also cerebral, versatile and chock-full of skills on a basketball court.” — Anthony Anderson, The Indianapolis (Indiana) Star, 31 Mar. 2022

Did You Know?

Cerebral comes from Latin cerebrum—a word meaning “brain.” Another brainy word is cerebrate, “to use the mind” or “to think.”