⚡ Quick summary
The words smart and intelligent are often used as synonyms in the sense of high mental quickness and thinking ability. The word intelligent is sometimes used to describe someone as having a natural mental quickness or the ability to use reason at all. The word smart has meanings that are not specifically about mental capacity, such as in the senses of “witty” or “fashionable.”
We use the words smart and intelligent to describe clever people who are full of knowledge. But do these two words mean exactly the same thing, or is there a difference?
In this article, we examine the words smart and intelligent, explain how they may be used differently, and provide examples of how we typically use these words in sentences.
smart vs. intelligent
In general, the words smart and intelligent are both used to describe a person who has a sharp mind and is mentally capable. For example, a person who can correctly use calculus would typically be described as either smart or intelligent. In many contexts, smart and intelligent are used as interchangeable synonyms.
However, they each have some of their own senses. For example, only intelligent is used to refer to something that is capable of using reason or understanding at all. When we wonder if there’s intelligent life on other planets, we’re wondering if there are other creatures that are able to reason like humans can. And when we discuss computers as being artificially intelligent or having artificial intelligence, we mean that they are able to understand meanings and use reason similarly to how a person can.
Smart can mean “saucy” or “brash” or “fashionable,” while intelligent can’t. Smart can also be used as a verb meaning “to cause a sharp pain,” while intelligent isn’t used as a verb.
For example:
- I get so frustrated with my brother’s smart comments about how my car won’t start because it’s old.
- James was a smart dresser, wearing a tie and three-piece suit every day to work.
- It may only be a paper cut, but it still smarts.
And sometimes small distinctions between the two words are made. Smart is often used to describe a person who has improved their mind through study and learning, while intelligent is used to describe a person who was born with mental sharpness or is naturally good at learning.
As well, intelligent can be seen as a stronger version of the word smart. So a smart person might be able to memorize information and pass tests, while an intelligent person might be able to apply what they have learned to new situations.
Examples of smart and intelligent in a sentence
Let’s keep our minds sharp by looking at how we typically use smart and intelligent in sentences.
- My daughter is a smart girl who always gets good grades.
- Leonardo is an intelligent man who is an expert in the fields of science, math, and engineering.
- I slammed my elbow against the wall, and now it really smarts.
- The science fiction movie was about intelligent fish that built underwater cities.
- I was a smart kid in school, but I wasn’t intelligent enough to be a nuclear chemist.
