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Synonyms

streetwise

American  
[street-wahyz] / ˈstritˌwaɪz /
Or street-wise

adjective

  1. street-smart.

streetwise British  
/ ˈstriːtˌwaɪz /

adjective

  1. Also: street-smart.  attuned to and adept at surviving in an urban, poor and often criminal environment

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • street wisdom noun

Etymology

Origin of streetwise

An Americanism dating back to 1960–65; street + wise 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A streetwise Scotland smothered France in defence and ran them through in attack, at one point stretching their lead to a scarcely credible 33 points.

From BBC

How far it takes them against a streetwise England is the great unknown.

From BBC

They will need to do far better against a City side that could be too sharp and streetwise for them, but their age is not an excuse.

From BBC

So, do I go with the energy of Leeds or back streetwise Palace?

From BBC

His dark complexion, rustic drawl and streetwise swagger became integral to his cinematic identity.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.