What does smart mean?
Smart is an adjective describing a person, idea, decision, or action marked by intelligence, quick thinking, sound judgment, or practical effectiveness. A smart person understands a situation quickly and often finds a useful or efficient solution; a smart decision is one that produces a good result for sound reasons. The word is widely used in both formal and informal English and can apply to people, choices, moves, technologies, and solutions. In certain informal contexts, smart can also mean fashionable, such as in a description of clothing or social style, and it may occasionally imply that someone is being cunning or overly clever. Because it combines mental ability with practical effectiveness, smart often suggests judgment rather than intelligence alone. It is consequently common in expressions such as smart choice and smart move, where approval is implied.
Having or showing quick intelligence, good judgment, and the ability to make effective decisions.
"The engineer devised a smart solution to the storage problem."
The word is commonly used with decisions, choices, moves, people, and practical solutions.
In a clever or intelligent manner.
"They played smartly and avoided the trap set by their opponents."
Informal and relatively uncommon compared with the adjective; smartly is more typical in ordinary use.
To act in a clever, intelligent, or advantageous way.
"If you want to succeed, you have to learn to smarten up."
Usually informal and often used in the expression smart up.
A person who is regarded as clever or intellectually capable.
"The youngest student in the class was a real smart."
Informal and chiefly North American in this use.
A smart choice is not merely clever; it is clever in a way that produces a better result.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does smart come from?
The adjective smart developed in Middle English, originally referring to keen or lively perception and quick intelligence. Its modern sense of being intellectually alert and making good judgments became established over time. The word was also extended to practical decisions and, in informal usage, to fashionable or advantageous appearance. Related forms include smarten, smartly, and smartness.
Related word forms
How smart is actually used
Generally positive and neutral in educational, professional, and everyday contexts. The informal sense meaning fashionable or cleverly advantageous can sometimes carry a mildly critical or sarcastic tone, depending on context.
Easily confused with smart
Smart describes intelligence or good judgment, whereas start means to begin an activity or process.