noun (plural geniuses)

• 1 [mass noun] exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability: she was a teacher of genius [in singular]: that woman has a genius for organization

• 2an exceptionally intelligent person or one with exceptional skill in a particular area of activity: a mathematical genius

• 3 (plural genii /ˈdʒiːnɪʌɪ/) (in some mythologies) a spirit associated with a particular person, place, or institution.
• a person regarded as exerting a powerful influence over another for good or evil: he sees Adams as the man’s evil genius

• 4the prevailing character or spirit of something: Boucher’s paintings did not suit the austere genius of neoclassicism

adjective

informal

• very clever or ingenious: a genius idea this book was absolutely genius in parts
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• Origin:

  late Middle English: from Latin, 'attendant spirit present from one's birth, innate ability or inclination', from the root of gignere 'beget'. The original sense 'spirit attendant on a person' gave rise to a sense 'a person's characteristic disposition' (late 16th century), which led to a sense 'a person's natural ability', and finally 'exceptional natural ability' (mid 17th century

  Spelling help

  Remember that genius ends with -ius.