Educated vs. Intelligence — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 3, 2024
Educated refers to acquiring knowledge through formal schooling, while intelligence indicates innate cognitive abilities to learn, understand, and solve problems.
Difference Between Educated and Intelligence
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Being educated involves attending educational institutions and systematically learning about various subjects. This formal education often leads to degrees and certifications. On the other hand, intelligence is a broader concept that includes abilities such as reasoning, problem-solving, understanding complex ideas, and adapting to new situations, which are not exclusively tied to formal education.
Education can enhance intelligence by providing knowledge and critical thinking skills. However, intelligence also influences educational attainment by affecting how easily an individual can grasp new concepts and apply them. Whereas education is structured and often measured by academic performance, intelligence can manifest in various forms that are not always quantifiable by standard educational metrics.
Educated individuals typically possess knowledge specific to the disciplines they have studied, such as mathematics, science, or literature. Conversely, intelligence is not restricted to specific domains and can aid in understanding and making connections between diverse fields, even without formal training in them.
In society, being educated is often seen as a requirement for many professional careers and is usually respected and recognized through diplomas and degrees. Intelligence, however, is recognized in more varied ways, such as problem-solving abilities or creative outputs, which may not always require formal education.
While education is acquired and can be significantly influenced by external factors like quality of schooling and access to resources, intelligence is often considered an innate trait that one is born with. It can be developed and nurtured, but there is an underlying component that is influenced by genetics.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Gaining knowledge through formal instruction
Innate ability to think, learn, and reason
Dependency
Depends on external educational resources
Largely considered an innate trait
Measurement
Degrees, diplomas, certificates
IQ tests, problem-solving capabilities
Field specificity
Specific to studied fields
Applies to any cognitive task
Societal recognition
Diplomas, academic titles
Recognized through cognitive achievements
Compare with Definitions
Educated
Attending and completing courses at educational institutions.
She became educated at a renowned university.
Intelligence
Ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
Her intelligence is evident in her quick learning.
Educated
Possessing an awareness of a wide range of facts or information.
They are educated voters who understand the issues.
Intelligence
Capacity for logic, understanding, and reasoning.
Intelligence tests often measure abstract reasoning skills.
Educated
Having knowledge acquired through study.
He is well-educated in European history.
Intelligence
Ability to process information and adapt to changes.
The child's intelligence makes him adaptable to new challenges.
Educated
Informed or prepared by formal or self-study.
She is educated in the legal ramifications of the contract.
Intelligence
Innate mental capacity rather than learned abilities.
Despite limited schooling, his natural intelligence was undeniable.
Educated
Characterized by or displaying qualities of culture and learning.
His educated manner reflects his boarding school background.
Intelligence
Natural cognitive ability without formal education.
His intelligence allowed him to solve complex puzzles easily.
Educated
Having an education, especially one above the average.
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in many ways: the capacity for logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. More generally, it can be described as the ability to perceive or infer information, and to retain it as knowledge to be applied towards adaptive behaviors within an environment or context.
Educated
Showing evidence of schooling, training, or experience.
Intelligence
The ability to acquire, understand, and use knowledge
A person of extraordinary intelligence.
Educated
Having or exhibiting cultivation; cultured
An educated manner.
Intelligence
Information, especially secret information gathered about an actual or potential enemy or adversary.
Educated
Based on a certain amount of experience or factual knowledge
An educated guess.
Intelligence
The gathering of such information
"Corporate intelligence relies on a slew of tools, some sophisticated, many quite basic" (Neil King and Jess Bravin).
Educated
Having attained a level of higher education, such as a college degree.
Intelligence
An agency or organization whose purpose is to gather such information
An officer from military intelligence.
Educated
Based on relevant information.
Intelligence
An intelligent, incorporeal being, especially an angel.
Educated
Simple past tense and past participle of educate
Intelligence
Of mind, especially to understand principles, truths, facts or meanings, acquire knowledge, and apply it to practice; the ability to comprehend and learn.
Educated
Formed or developed by education; as, an educated man.
Intelligence
The quality of making use or having made use of such capacities: depth of understanding, mental quickness.
Educated
Possessing an education (especially having more than average knowledge)
Intelligence
(countable) An entity that has such capacities.
Educated
Having or based on relevant experience;
An educated guess
An enlightened electorate
Intelligence
, often secret, about an enemy or about hostile activities.
Educated
Adequately educated in the use of numerical terms and concepts especially in arithmetical operations
Intelligence
(countable) A political or military department, agency or unit designed to gather information, usually secret, about the enemy or about hostile activities.
Intelligence
(dated) acquaintance; intercourse; familiarity.
Intelligence
The act or state of knowing; the exercise of the understanding.
Intelligence
The capacity to know or understand; readiness of comprehension; the intellect, as a gift or an endowment.
And dimmed with darkness their intelligence.
Intelligence
Information communicated; news; notice; advice.
Intelligence is given where you are hid.
Intelligence
Acquaintance; intercourse; familiarity.
He lived rather in a fair intelligence than any friendship with the favorites.
Intelligence
Knowledge imparted or acquired, whether by study, research, or experience; general information.
I write as he that none intelligenceOf meters hath, ne flowers of sentence.
Intelligence
An intelligent being or spirit; - generally applied to pure spirits; as, a created intelligence.
The great Intelligences fairThat range above our mortal state,In circle round the blessed gate,Received and gave him welcome there.
Intelligence
The division within a military organization that gathers and evaluates information about an enemy.
Intelligence
The ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
Intelligence
A unit responsible for gathering and interpreting information about an enemy
Intelligence
Secret information about an enemy (or potential enemy);
We sent out planes to gather intelligence on their radar coverage
Intelligence
New information about specific and timely events;
They awaited news of the outcome
Intelligence
The operation of gathering information about an enemy
Common Curiosities
What does being educated typically involve?
It typically involves systematic study in formal educational settings like schools and universities.
How is intelligence measured?
It is often measured using IQ tests and other assessments that evaluate various cognitive abilities.
Can education affect a person's intelligence?
Yes, education can enhance a person's cognitive abilities by providing knowledge and stimulating intellectual growth.
How do educational institutions impact intelligence?
They can nurture and develop a person's intelligence by providing intellectual challenges and resources.
Can a person be intelligent but not educated?
Yes, someone might possess strong cognitive abilities and practical skills even without formal education.
Do you need to be educated to be considered intelligent?
No, intelligence can be present without formal education; it includes natural abilities to reason, learn, and solve problems.
Does everyone have the same potential to become educated or intelligent?
While educational opportunities can vary, intelligence includes both innate abilities and those developed through experiences.
Is intelligence the same as being educated?
No, intelligence refers to cognitive abilities that are often innate, while being educated refers to acquired knowledge from formal education.
What are examples of intelligence not related to formal education?
Problem-solving in everyday situations and the ability to learn new skills independently are examples.
How does society value education and intelligence?
Society values education as a key to professional opportunities and social status, while intelligence is appreciated for problem-solving and innovative thinking.
What is more important for career success, being educated or intelligent?
Both play crucial roles, but the importance can vary depending on the field and specific job requirements.
What can be a sign of high intelligence outside academic achievement?
Creative problem-solving and the ability to adapt to new and challenging situations are signs.
Is it possible to become more intelligent through education?
Education can improve certain aspects of intelligence, such as critical thinking and knowledge application.
What role does intelligence play in educational success?
Intelligence can significantly influence how well a person performs academically and grasps complex concepts.
How are educated people perceived in professional settings?
They are often seen as qualified and competent, especially in fields that require specific knowledge and skills.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
