street smarts

plural noun

: the quality of being streetwise

Examples of street smarts in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The car wash in itself is another example of the impossibly big shoes Ava left to fill; her cunning, charisma, and street smarts were the glue holding the school together. Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025 There’s a certain amount of street smarts every city dweller must acquire, but the shorthand is: Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025 Bus operators rely on common sense and street smarts when confronted with unexpected events and emergencies, ranging from flash floods to terrorism. Curtis Tate, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2024 His Catwoman, in the final installment of his trilogy, needed to exude intelligence, toughness, and street smarts. Chris Bellamy and Stephanie Kaloi, EW.com, 2 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for street smarts

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of street smarts was in 1966

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Street smarts.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/street%20smarts. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

street smarts

plural noun
: the quality of being streetwise

More from Merriam-Webster on street smarts

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!