Smart vs. Wise
Main DifferenceThe main difference between smart and wise is that the adjective smart refers to intelligence, whereas the adjective wise refers to good judgment.

Difference Between Smart and Wise
Smart vs. Wise
Smart is an adjective that highlights that someone is intelligent, whereas wise is an adjective that emphasizes someone with great experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
Smart vs. Wise
The adjective smart refers to intelligence; on the other hand, the adjective wise refers to good judgment.
Smart vs. Wise
Smart has more use in spoken language, on the flip side, wise is preferred in written language but also seen in spoken language.
Smart vs. Wise
The word smart refers to the people of all ages contrarily the word wise is more commonly associated with mature and experienced people.
Smart vs. Wise
Smart covers the attributes like quick-witted intelligence inversely the word wise covers the attributes like knowledge, experience, good judgment, sensibility, wisdom, and the like.
Smart vs. Wise
A smart person does not essentially have experience and knowledge; conversely, a wise person always has experience and knowledge.
Smart vs. Wise
Smart people tend towards logic; on the contrary wise people tend towards the emotional and spiritual sides of logic as well.
Smart vs. Wise
The word smart is an informal word, while the word wise is mostly used in formal contexts.
Smart vs. Wise
Being smart does not require experience; theoretical knowledge is sufficient for it on the converse being wise requires a lot of experience.
Smart vs. Wise
Smart people are good for their advantage by solving their problems while wise people use their wisdom to inspire and help others.
Smartverb
(intransitive) To hurt or sting.
After being hit with a pitch, the batter exclaimed "Ouch, my arm smarts!"Wiseadjective
Showing good judgement or the benefit of experience.
Storing extra food for the winter was a wise decision.They were considered the wise old men of the administration."It is a profitable thing, if one is wise, to seem foolish" - AeschylusSmartverb
(transitive) To cause a smart or sting in.
Wiseadjective
Disrespectful.
Don't get wise with me!Smartverb
(intransitive) To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; to suffer; to feel the sting of evil.
Wiseadjective
(colloquial) Aware, informed.
Be careful, the boss is wise.Smartadjective
Exhibiting social ability or cleverness.
Wiseverb
To become wise.
Smartadjective
(informal) Exhibiting intellectual knowledge, such as that found in books.
Wiseverb
Usually with "up", to inform or learn.
Mo wised him up about his situation.''After Mo had a word with him, he wised up.Smartadjective
Equipped with digital/computer technology.
smart bomb, smart carsmartcard, smartphoneWiseverb
(dialectal) to instruct
Smartadjective
Good-looking.
a smart outfitWiseverb
(dialectal) to advise; induce
Smartadjective
Cleverly shrewd and humorous in a way that may be rude and disrespectful.
He became tired of his daughter's sarcasm and smart remarks.Don't get smart with me!Wiseverb
(dialectal) to show the way, guide
Smartadjective
Sudden and intense.
Wiseverb
(dialectal) to direct the course of, pilot
Smartadjective
Causing sharp pain; stinging.
Wiseverb
(dialectal) to cause to turn
Smartadjective
Sharp; keen; poignant.
a smart painWisenoun
(archaic) Way, manner, method.
Smartadjective
Intense in feeling; painful. Used usually with the adverb intensifier right.
He raised his voice, and it hurt her feelings right smart.That cast on his leg chaffs him right smart.Wisenoun
a way of doing or being;
in no wisein this wiseSmartadjective
(archaic) Efficient; vigorous; brilliant.
Wisenoun
United States Jewish leader (born in Hungary) (1874-1949)
Smartadjective
(archaic) Pretentious; showy; spruce.
a smart gownWisenoun
United States religious leader (born in Bohemia) who united reform Jewish organizations in the United States (1819-1900)
Smartadjective
(archaic) Brisk; fresh.
a smart breezeWiseadjective
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment;
a wise leadera wise and perceptive commentSmartnoun
A sharp, quick, lively pain; a sting.
Wiseadjective
marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters;
judicious use of one's moneya sensible managera wise decisionSmartnoun
Mental pain or suffering; grief; affliction.
Wiseadjective
evidencing the possession of inside information
Smartnoun
Smart-money.
Wiseadjective
able to take a broad view of negotiations between states
Smartnoun
A dandy; one who is smart in dress; one who is brisk, vivacious, or clever.
Wiseadjective
carefully considered;
a considered opinionSmartnoun
a kind of pain such as that caused by a wound or a burn or a sore
Smartverb
be the source of pain
Smartadjective
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
Smartadjective
elegant and stylish;
chic elegancea smart new dressa suit of voguish cutSmartadjective
characterized by quickness and ease in learning;
some children are brighter in one subject than anothersmart children talk earlier than the averageSmartadjective
improperly forward or bold;
don't be fresh with meimpertinent of a child to lecture a grownupan impudent boy given to insulting strangersSmartadjective
marked by smartness in dress and manners;
a dapper young mana jaunty red hatComparison Chart
Smart | Wise |
A positive adjective that refers to intelligence | A positive adjective that refers to good judgment |
Associated With | |
People of all ages | Maturity/mature people |
Context | |
Informal | |
Experience and Knowledge | |
It does not require | It requires |
Spoken and Written Language | |
Mostly used in spoken language | Used in both spoken and written language |
Smart vs. Wise
The words smart and wise fall into the category of the adjective in parts of speech. These are positive adjectives. Both these adjectives are similar in their meaning but are different in their usage. The adjective smart refers to intelligence, whereas the adjective wise refers to good judgment. Smart is an adjective that highlights that someone is intelligent. Wise is an adjective that emphasizes someone with great experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
The word smart is informal and refers to people of all ages. The word wise is more commonly associated with mature and experienced people. Smart covers attribute like quick-witted intelligence. Wise covers attributes like knowledge, experience, good judgment, sensibility, wisdom, and the like. The word smart has less admiration as compared to the word-wise. Smart is also used as a compliment for someone who is not intelligent enough but did something intelligent in a specific situation. However, wise cannot be a temporary compliment; rather, it is used to appreciate the overall intelligence of a person.
A smart person does not essentially have experience and knowledge. A wise person always has experience and knowledge. The word smart is an informal word and is commonly used among youngsters. The word wise is mostly used in formal contexts. As the word smart has informal use, it has more use in spoken language. The word wise being formal is preferred in written language but also seen in spoken language. Smart people tend toward logic. Wise people tend towards the emotional and spiritual sides of logic, as well.
Being smart does not require experience; theoretical knowledge is sufficient for it. Being wise requires a lot of experience. Smart people are good at their advantage by solving their problems. Wise people use their wisdom to inspire and help others. Smart people are quick in acquiring and applying knowledge. They also like to express and impose their point of view. Wise people acquire knowledge with full understanding by taking time, and also they listen to others to increase their knowledge. They are less likely to speak and impose their point of view. Smart people believe in their abilities and are confident about them. Wise people know their abilities but stay humble to learn more.
What is Smart?
The word smart is a positive adjective. It refers to intelligence. The word smart is informal and refers to people of all ages. Smart covers attribute like quick-witted intelligence. Being smart is to have a high level of intelligence. Smart people tend to score high in their lives. Smart is also used as a compliment for someone who is not intelligent enough but did something intelligent in a specific situation.
A smart person does not essentially have experience and knowledge. This word is used in an informal context. It is commonly associated with youngsters. As the word smart has informal use, it has more use in spoken language. Being smart does not require experience; theoretical knowledge is sufficient for it. The adjective smart can also direct the physical appearance of a person. A neat and well-dressed person is described as smart. The comparative and superlative degrees of the adjective smart are smarter and smartest.
There are certain specific characteristics of smart people. Smart people are good at their advantage by solving their problems. They tend towards logic and are quick in acquiring and applying knowledge. They also like to express and impose their point of view. Smart people believe in their abilities and are confident about them. Wise people know their abilities but stay humble to learn more.
Examples
- My new student is very smart.
- Oh wow, you are looking smart!
- I must say that you are very smart.
- John is smarter than his elder brother Harry.
- He is the smartest boy in his class.
What is Wise?
The word wise is an adjective wise that refers to good judgment. Wise is an adjective that emphasizes someone with great experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The word wise is more commonly associated with mature and experienced people. These adjective wise covers attribute such as knowledge, experience, good judgment, sensibility, wisdom, and the like.
Wise cannot be a temporary compliment; rather, it is used to appreciate the overall intelligence of a person. A wise person always has experience and knowledge. The word is mostly used in formal contexts. The word wise being formal is preferred in written language but also seen in spoken language. The comparative and superlative degrees of the adjective wise are wiser and wisest.
There are certain characteristics of wise people. They tend towards the emotional and spiritual sides of logic. Wise people use their wisdom to inspire and help others. They acquire knowledge with full understanding by taking time, and also they listen to others to increase their knowledge. They are less likely to speak and impose their point of view.
Moreover, a wise person has a broad area of knowledge. It is not only confined to books. It is the reason that wise people act upon the knowledge it has. He is also fully aware of his flaws that benefits him in finding new areas of information. Wise people know their abilities but stay humble to learn more.
Examples
- The wise man advice the kids
- It would be wise to tackle this situation with mutual discussion.
- He is wise in the ways of politics.
- The wife was wiser than his husband.
- The wise precautions she took saved her life.
- Our teacher’s wise words helped us to resolve the issue easily.
ConclusionSmart and wise re two different adjectives having similar meanings. Both these words have differences in their usage.