smarter

Smarter is the comparative form of the adjective smart. It is used to indicate that one person, thing, or idea has greater intelligence, skill, or effectiveness than another. In everyday use, smarter can describe humans and animals, as well as devices, systems, or methods that perform more efficiently or intelligently. For example, “She is smarter than her classmates,” or “The smarter thermostat helps save energy.”

In addition to intelligence, smarter can describe practical savvy or quick-wittedness, sometimes extending to street or social intelligence. It can also apply to technology and software, where a product marketed as smarter implies more advanced features, learning capability, or automation compared with a previous version or a competing product. Example: “A smarter AI assistant can anticipate user needs.”

Notes on usage include that in British English, smart commonly means stylish or well-dressed, and “smarter” can be used to describe someone looking more polished: “He dressed smarter today.” The corresponding adverb form is usually “more smartly” or simply expressed through a different construction, such as “more cleverly.” The superlative form is “smartest.” Related terms include smart, smartly, and smartness.

See also entries on intelligence, cleverness, and smart devices for related contexts.