Standard Lemma guide

streetwise

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • CMU ARPABET: S T R IY1 T W AY2 Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having the necessary knack, personality and instinct for survival in rough, urban environments.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Possessing a style that reflects urban life and microculture.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

Examples

  • You could tell from the way he spat old Tupac lyrics, loitering in the corner with his homies, flipping that Yankees cap on his head like he couldn't give a damn that he was streetwise enough to melt Will Smith.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

having the shrewd resourcefulness needed to survive in an urban environment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: street smart, with-it

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From street + -wise.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: cwany — Translations
  • Polish: obrotny — Translations
  • Polish: zaradny — Translations
  • Spanish: canchero — Translations