BBC Learning English News Words 25th February 2010 Intelligence
The BBC's Clare Arthurs looks at some of the words and phrases often used in the news and their meanings in various contexts. In this feature she talks about the word intelligence.

Intelligence. You'll hear it used quite a lot in the news; as a noun, as in, Intelligence Ministry or intelligence agents. Put simply, we use it in the news to refer to information or analysis, provided by government agencies on matters of national interest or state security.

Who is the information, intelligence or the analysis of knowledge provided to? It goes to the government of the day, and it’s usually gathered, and given, in secret.

To quote from the American secret service, the CIA or Central Intelligence Agency: "We are the eyes and ears of the nation and at times its hidden hand."

Britain's security service, MI5, says it exists to protect national security, using techniques such as surveillance, or following people, and listening to their conversations.

We most often hear about the activities of intelligence agencies when things go wrong, or their work crosses into the political arena. You'll hear talk of intelligence agents, secret service people, spies, or, very informally, spooks.

You'll also hear intelligence used in other news stories, stories about human intelligence, or how clever we are; whether there's intelligent life on other planets, another reference to the ability of the brain; and artificial intelligence, which refers to the problem-solving abilities of computers. Now, I wonder if they know how to keep a secret.

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