IQ
UK: ˌaɪˈkjuː | US: ˌaɪˈkjuː
n. abbreviation for "intelligence quotient," a measure of a person's cognitive abilities relative to their age group.
The term "IQ" is an initialism derived from the German Intelligenz-Quotient, coined by psychologist William Stern in 1912. The "quotient" originally referred to a ratio (mental age ÷ chronological age × 100), though modern tests use standardized scoring. The abbreviation preserves the core concepts—intelligence (I) as the measured trait and quotient (Q) as the mathematical framework.
Her IQ score placed her in the top 2% of the population.
The study compared the IQ levels of identical twins raised apart.
High IQ alone doesn’t guarantee success in life.
The psychologist administered an IQ test to assess cognitive strengths.
Critics argue that IQ tests don’t measure creativity or emotional intelligence.