Refers to the ability to respond cleverly and appropriately in conversation or situations, often with a sense of resourcefulness and social grace.
Everyone laughed at his witty reply.
In negotiations, tact and quick thinking count for a lot.
very witty; ingenious and resourceful
Standard kanji spelling; the most common form in modern usage.
Variant kanji spelling using 智 (wisdom); less common than 機知.
Compound of 機 (opportunity, moment) and 知 (knowledge, wisdom), literally 'timely wisdom'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning of ready wit.