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definitions

smart ass

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noun Slang: Sometimes Vulgar.

a wise guy; know-it-all.

RELATED WORDS

impudent, bold, audacious, blatant, unabashed, shameless, know-it-all, forward, flip, brain, intellectual, braggart, windbag, wiseacre, barefaced, brassy, cheeky, cocky, defiant, flashy

Nearby words

  1. smarm,
  2. smarmy,
  3. smart,
  4. smart aleck,
  5. smart as a whip,
  6. smart bomb,
  7. smart card,
  8. smart casual,
  9. smart drink,
  10. smart drug
Also smart·-ass·, smart·ass.

Origin of smart ass

First recorded in 1905–10

smart-ass

[ smahrt-as ]
/ ˈsmɑrtˌæs /
Slang: Sometimes Vulgar.

adjective

Also smart-assed, smart·assed. characteristic of a smart ass or wise guy.

noun

smart ass.

Origin of smart-ass

First recorded in 1955–60
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for smartass

  • Later, after getting a smartass remark from Lewis, she demanded to know if he and his buddies were raising credit-card rates.

    The Fools on the Hill|Charlie Gasparino|February 12, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Word Origin and History for smartass

smart-ass

also smartass, 1960 (adj.), 1962 (n.), from smart (adj.) + ass (n.2).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper