Crossword Genius

Lack of American intelligence (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nous

'intelligence' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'lack of american' is the wordplay.
'lack of' becomes 'no' (lack of money is no money).
'american' becomes 'us'.
'no'+'us'='NOUS'

(Other definitions for nous that I've seen before include "Gumption" , "Savvy" , "Common sense (sl.)" , "we recognised in Nancy" , "FT in Paris, say" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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