English Meaning & Definitions
A person who vexatiously annoys others by frequently displaying cleverness, making sarcastic remarks, or acting as though they know everything.
- “The teacher told the smart aleck to stop disrupting the class with unnecessary commentary.”
- “Don't be such a smart aleck; if you know the answer so well, why don't you do it yourself?”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “smart aleck”.
Originating in the United States in the late 19th century, the term is traditionally believed to be derived from a real historical figure: Alick (Aleck) Hoag, a notorious 19th-century confidence man, thief, and brothel owner in New York City, along with his clever wife 'Smart Aleck' Maggie, who frequently outwitted the authorities. Over time, the name evolved into a generic descriptor for anyone perceived as obnoxiously clever or conceited.
Imagine a guy named 'Aleck' who always thinks he's 'smart' and has a quick sarcastic comeback for everything.
Frequently Asked Questions About “smart aleck”
1. What is the meaning of “smart aleck” in English?
In English, smart aleck (noun) is defined as: “A person who vexatiously annoys others by frequently displaying cleverness, making sarcastic remarks, or acting as though they know everything.”.
2. How do you use “smart aleck” in a sentence?
“The teacher told the smart aleck to stop disrupting the class with unnecessary commentary.”
3. What are English synonyms of “smart aleck”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “smart aleck”?
Originating in the United States in the late 19th century, the term is traditionally believed to be derived from a real historical figure: Alick (Aleck) Hoag, a notorious 19th-century confidence man, thief, and brothel owner in New York City, along with his clever wife 'Smart Aleck' Maggie, who frequently outwitted the authorities. Over time, the name evolved into a generic descriptor for anyone perceived as obnoxiously clever or conceited.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.