Smart vs. Genius — What's the Difference?

Quick to respond appropriately.

A guiding spirit.

Having or showing quick intelligence or ready mental capability.

Exceptional intellectual or creative power.

Clever and resourceful in managing situations.

A person with extraordinary mental prowess.

Sharp, stinging pain.

A strong inclination towards a particular area.

Well-dressed, neat.

Natural ability or capacity for achievement.

(of a person) clean, tidy, and well dressed

A genius is a person who displays exceptional intellectual ability, creative productivity, universality in genres, or originality, typically to a degree that is associated with the achievement of new discoveries or advances in a domain of knowledge. Geniuses may be polymaths who excel across many diverse subjects or may show high achievements in only a single kind of activity.There is no scientifically precise definition of a genius.

Having or showing a quick-witted intelligence

Extraordinary intellectual and creative power

Quick; brisk

A person of extraordinary intellect and talent.

(of part of the body) feel a sharp stinging pain

A person who has an exceptionally high intelligence quotient, typically above 140.

Sharp stinging pain

A strong natural talent, aptitude, or inclination

Intelligence; acumen

One who has such a talent or inclination

Having or showing intelligence; bright.

The prevailing spirit or distinctive character, as of a place, a person, or an era

Canny and shrewd in dealings with others

Pl. ge·ni·i (jēnē-ī′) Roman Mythology A tutelary deity or guardian spirit of a person or place.

Amusingly clever; witty

Someone possessing extraordinary intelligence or skill; especially somebody who has demonstrated this by a creative or original work in science, music, art etc.

Impertinent; insolent

Extraordinary mental capacity.

Energetic or quick in movement

Inspiration, a mental leap, an extraordinary creative process.

Fashionable; elegant

The tutelary deity or spirit of a place or person.

Capable of making adjustments that resemble those resulting from human decisions, chiefly by means of electronic sensors and computer technology

(informal) Ingenious, brilliant, very clever, or original.

To cause a sharp, usually superficial, stinging pain

A good or evil spirit, or demon, supposed by the ancients to preside over a man's destiny in life; a tutelary deity; a supernatural being; a spirit, good or bad. Cf. Jinnee.

To be the location of such a pain

The peculiar structure of mind with which each individual is endowed by nature; that disposition or aptitude of mind which is peculiar to each man, and which qualifies him for certain kinds of action or special success in any pursuit; special taste, inclination, or disposition; as, a genius for history, for poetry, or painting.

To feel such a pain.

Peculiar character; animating spirit, as of a nation, a religion, a language.

To suffer acutely, as from mental distress, wounded feelings, or remorse

Distinguished mental superiority; uncommon intellectual power; especially, superior power of invention or origination of any kind, or of forming new combinations; as, a man of genius.

Sharp pain or anguish

A man endowed with uncommon vigor of mind; a man of superior intellectual faculties and creativity; as, Shakespeare was a rare genius.

Smarts(Slang) Intelligence; expertise

Someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality;

(intransitive) To hurt or sting.

Unusual mental ability

(transitive) To cause a smart or sting in.

Someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

(intransitive) To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; be punished severely; to feel the sting of evil.

Exceptional creative ability

Exhibiting social ability or cleverness.

A natural talent;

(informal) Exhibiting intellectual knowledge, such as that found in books.

Equipped with intelligent behaviour (digital/computer technology).

Good-looking; well dressed; fine; fashionable.

Cleverly shrewd and humorous in a way that may be rude and disrespectful.

Sudden and intense.

Causing sharp pain; stinging.

Sharp; keen; poignant.

Intense in feeling; painful. Used usually with the adverb intensifier right.

(archaic) Efficient; vigorous; brilliant.

(archaic) Pretentious; showy; spruce.

(archaic) Brisk; fresh.

A sharp, quick, lively pain; a sting.

Mental pain or suffering; grief; affliction.

Smart-money.

A dandy; one who is smart in dress; one who is brisk, vivacious, or clever.

To feel a lively, pungent local pain; - said of some part of the body as the seat of irritation; as, my finger smarts; these wounds smart.

To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; to suffer; to feel the sting of evil; as, the team is still smarting from its loss of the championship.

To cause a smart in.

Quick, pungent, lively pain; a pricking local pain, as the pain from puncture by nettles.

Severe, pungent pain of mind; pungent grief; as, the smart of affliction.

A fellow who affects smartness, briskness, and vivacity; a dandy.

Smart money (see below).

Causing a smart; pungent; pricking; as, a smart stroke or taste.

Keen; severe; poignant; as, smart pain.

Vigorous; sharp; severe.

Accomplishing, or able to accomplish, results quickly; active; sharp; clever.

Efficient; vigorous; brilliant.

Marked by acuteness or shrewdness; quick in suggestion or reply; vivacious; witty; as, a smart reply; a smart saying.

Pretentious; showy; spruce; as, a smart gown.

Brisk; fresh; as, a smart breeze.

A kind of pain such as that caused by a wound or a burn or a sore

Be the source of pain

Showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness

Elegant and stylish;

Characterized by quickness and ease in learning;

Improperly forward or bold;

Marked by smartness in dress and manners;

Smart people possess quick and adaptable intelligence; geniuses have deep intellectual capacities leading to innovative contributions.

While high IQ is common among geniuses, the term also encompasses creativity and innovation that may not be measured by IQ alone.

Yes, individuals can be both smart and geniuses, exhibiting both quick learning abilities and deep, transformative insights.

Debate exists, but genius is often seen as a mixture of innate ability and environmental nurturing.

Being smart can lead to success in many areas of life through effective problem solving and adaptability.

No, geniuses may excel in specific areas while possibly neglecting others due to their intense focus.

Educational systems may offer specialized programs like gifted education to cater to the needs of geniuses.

Genius is often recognized through exceptional achievements, unique insights, or transformative impacts in their field.

Quick learning, adaptability, and practical problem-solving are common traits of smart people.

Smart people typically use logical reasoning and resourcefulness to overcome failures.

Deep insight, innovative thinking, and often, a capacity for groundbreaking work.