smart money

noun

1. money invested or wagered by experienced investors or bettors.

2. such knowledgeable investors or bettors.

3. Law.,  punitive or exemplary damages.

smart money

noun

1. 1. money bet or invested by experienced gamblers or investors, esp with inside information

   2. the gamblers or investors themselves

2. money paid in order to extricate oneself from an unpleasant situation or agreement, esp from military service

3. money paid by an employer to someone injured while working for him

4. law damages awarded to a plaintiff where the wrong was aggravated by fraud, malice, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of smart money¹

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

The personnel might change a tad from week to week, but the outcome, says the smart money, will remain the same.

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"It's a reminder that smart money habits often start with questioning what you're paying for."

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Until then, smart money has mostly stayed away from them until it’s proven they can win after such a long ship to the U.S.

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That might be giving too much credit to one player’s influence after nearly 50 years of clean chins, but come opening day, the smart money will be on Williams wearing a beard.

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The smart money would be on him to finish his career with the Lakers.

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Related Words

• asset 
• contribution 
• expenditure 
• expense 
• finance 
• financing 
• grant 
• loan 
• money 
• property 
• purchase 
• stake 
• transaction 
• venture