Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

street-smart

American  
[street-smahrt] / ˈstritˌsmɑrt /

adjective

  1. possessing or showing street smarts.


Etymology

Origin of street-smart

First recorded in 1965–70

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.

New Zealand's "street-smart" cricketers can find a way to beat England and guarantee their semi-final place at the T20 World Cup, coach Rob Walters said on Thursday.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

“For a kid who thought he was this tough street-smart kid from D.C., I was in for a very rude awakening,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2025

If they're not street-smart, they're not going to be there very long.

From Salon • Oct. 11, 2023

Hun Sen is one of Asia's great survivors, a wily, street-smart politician who has time and again outmanoeuvred his opponents.

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2023

Even the street-smart and experienced Lamphere was not prepared for Gardner's personality or his unusual brilliance.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "street-smart" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com