cerebral

adjective

ce·​re·​bral sə-ˈrē-brəl How to pronounce cerebral (audio) ˈser-ə- How to pronounce cerebral (audio)
ˈse-rə-
Synonyms of cerebral
1
a
: of or relating to the brain or the intellect
b
: of, relating to, affecting, or being the cerebrum
cerebral edema
cerebral arteries
2
a
: appealing to intellectual appreciation
cerebral drama
b
: primarily intellectual in nature
a cerebral society
books for cerebral readers
cerebrally
sə-ˈrē-brə-lē How to pronounce cerebral (audio)
ˈser-ə-
ˈse-rə-
adverb

Did you know?

Cerebral comes from Latin cerebrum—a word meaning "brain." Another brainy word is cerebrate, "to use the mind" or "to think."

Examples of cerebral in a Sentence

He's a very cerebral comedian. a very cerebral jurist who has given much thought to what makes our nation's constitution work
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The son of a Scottish immigrant, McCluskie had a reputation as a political street fighter and his gruff style complemented Becerra’s more measured, cerebral approach. Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026 For instance, the love planet Venus spends the first half of the month in the curious, playful and loquacious sign of Gemini, making attraction more cerebral than physical. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026 Caleb Downs would be fun on the offensive side of the ball, most likely as a receiver, because of his cerebral nature. Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026 Which, in turn, leads her to make friends who appreciate her cerebral quirks. Judy Berman, Time, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cerebral

Word History

Etymology

French cérébral, from Latin cerebrum brain; akin to Old High German hirni brain, Greek kara head, keras horn, Sanskrit śiras head — more at horn

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of cerebral was in 1801

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Cite this Entry

“Cerebral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cerebral. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

cerebral

adjective
ce·​re·​bral sə-ˈrē-brəl How to pronounce cerebral (audio) ˈser-ə- How to pronounce cerebral (audio)
1
: of or relating to the brain
2
: of, relating to, or being the cerebrum
3
: intellectual entry 1 sense 1
a cerebral novel

Medical Definition

cerebral

adjective
ce·​re·​bral sə-ˈrē-brəl How to pronounce cerebral (audio) ˈser-ə- How to pronounce cerebral (audio)
1
: of or relating to the brain or the intellect
2
: of, relating to, affecting, or being the cerebrum
cerebral blood flow
cerebral toxoplasmosis

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