# intel

/ˌɪnˈtɛɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intel
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. secret information

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

secret or useful information that is collected about a person, group, or country.

For teachers: information of military, political, or strategic value, often gathered through surveillance or undercover operations.

- The team gathered some intel on their rivals before the big game.
- The field agents provided actionable intel regarding the insurgent group's movements, allowing the command center to adjust their strategy in real time.

Usage: Uncountable; it does not take a plural form or an indefinite article.

Teaching tip: While it originated in military contexts, it is now very common in business and sports to mean 'competitive information about the competition'.

## Examples

- The team gathered some useful intel on the rival company.
- The scouts returned to the base with fresh intel regarding the enemy's movement along the border.
- Despite having high-quality intel from multiple sources, the command center hesitated to act until they could confirm the target's exact coordinates.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.