SME

What Does SME Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

The abbreviation SME means "Subject Matter Expert" and "Small and Medium Enterprise."

Subject Matter Expert

SME is commonly used in general chat to call someone a "Know-it-all." This meaning of SME comes from its use in a business context, where a "Subject Matter Expert" is a specialist in a specific field.

Small and Medium Enterprise

SME is also used with the meaning "Small and Medium Enterprise" to refer to businesses that meet certain criteria with regards size and other characteristics, as defined (in the US) by the Small Business Administration. SMEs that manufacture goods are also classified as SMM ("Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturers").

Image for SME

When I write SME, I mean this:

SME also means "Small and Medium Enterprise."

Summary of Key Points

First Definition for SME

"Subject Matter Expert" is, by far, the most common meaning for SME when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

SME
Definition:	Subject Matter Expert
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Second Definition for SME

SME also means "Small and Medium Enterprise."

SME
Definition:	Small and Medium Enterprise
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults

Examples of SME in Sentences

Here are examples of SME in conversations, with the meaning "Subject Matter Expert":

Lynn: Women spend more time wondering what men are thinking than men spend thinking.
Tara: Hah, you sound like a SME.

Chris: Phil goes on and on about baking cakes.
Dara: That's because he's an SME, now he's seen two seasons of "Bake Off."

Tony: Use squid strips for bass.
Mark: When did you become such an SME? You've never caught anything.

An Academic Look at SME

As it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., "Ess Emm Ee"), SME is classified as an initialism abbreviation. Initialisms are different to acronyms, which are spoken like words. SME is used as a noun (i.e., a naming word).