subnormal intelligence
- noun
- /sʌbˈnɔrməl ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns/
- Archaic
:
inteligencia subnormal
- Schools often implement specialized programs for students with subnormal intelligence to help them succeed academically.
Examples
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The assessment revealed that he had subnormal intelligence, which contributed to his difficulties in learning new tasks.
-
Homer discovers the root cause of his subnormal intelligence: a crayon that was lodged in his brain ever since he was a kid.
Blog text (24) -
By the logic you use above, if we put a bag over your head and spin you, and you still manage to pin the tail on the donkey, you are a ninja, while if you miss, you are of subnormal intelligence, dubious character, and you sing poorly, too.
Blog text (11) -
Many employers are required to provide support for employees with subnormal intelligence to ensure they can perform their jobs effectively.
Synonyms
1
8.4
Lower than usual ability to think and learn
1
6.2
A state of not understanding things quickly
A condition of low ability to learn and think that starts in childhood
A condition in which a person has lower than usual thinking ability
A quality of being slow to understand and making simple mistakes
Low mental ability to think clearly or learn
Antonyms
How Intelligent
1
8.2
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Archaic
- NSFW
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'intelligence that is significantly below the average level' is directly derivable from combining 'subnormal' (less than normal) with 'intelligence' (capacity to learn/understand). This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition following common semantic patterns (and similar constructions exist in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the phrase.
Etymology
Subnormal intelligence comes from the parts sub- meaning 'below' and normal meaning 'average', so the phrase gives the picture of someone's thinking being under the average line. That's why it is used to mean 'intelligence below the average', often shown by tests.