Kiss vs. Smack — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 11, 2023
Kiss refers to a gentle touch or pressing of lips against another surface as a sign of affection, greeting, or love. Smack, while also a type of kiss, can be more casual and often carries the connotation of sound or impact.
Difference Between Kiss and Smack
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Key Differences
Kiss and Smack both involve the act of pressing one's lips against another surface, commonly another set of lips. However, a kiss is usually considered a more tender and affectionate action. It often carries romantic or familial connotations and is generally seen as a loving gesture.
Smack, on the other hand, can also be a form of kiss but is often less formal and may come with a sound, hence the name. While a kiss is usually soft and silent, a smack is often louder and quicker. It's more casual and may be seen in greetings or farewells among friends or family members.
When you talk about a kiss, it can be deeply emotional and meaningful. Kisses are used in various contexts, including romantic relationships, familial ties, or even religious or cultural ceremonies. Smacks are less likely to be involved in these deeper, more emotional settings.
While both kiss and smack can be nouns or verbs, the word "kiss" has more variations like "peck," "French kiss," or "air kiss," each with their nuances and contexts. Smack, although versatile, doesn't have as many subtypes specifically associated with it.
Comparison Chart
Emotional Weight
Often deep and meaningful
More casual
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Sound
Generally silent
Often comes with sound
Context
Romantic, familial, ceremonial
Greetings, casual
Variations
Many (peck, French kiss, etc.)
Fewer specific types
Part of Speech
Both noun and verb
Both noun and verb
Compare with Definitions
Kiss
A kiss is a tender touch of lips to express affection.
She gave her mother a loving kiss.
Smack
A smack is a quick, casual kiss often with sound.
She gave him a quick smack on the cheek.
Kiss
A kiss is often a romantic gesture between two people.
Their first kiss was unforgettable.
Smack
A smack refers to a loud slap or hit.
The smack of the ball hitting the bat resonated through the field.
Kiss
A kiss can also be a ceremonial or religious act.
He received a kiss from the priest as a blessing.
Smack
A smack can be a loud sound resulting from impact.
The smack of thunder startled me.
Kiss
A kiss is used as a form of non-verbal communication.
She sent him a kiss across the room to say hello.
Smack
Smack can also mean to hit something with force.
He smacked the baseball out of the park.
Kiss
A kiss can be a light touch or contact with an object.
The ball had just a kiss with the edge of the table.
Smack
Smack can refer to the taste or flavor of something.
This soup has a smack of garlic.
Kiss
A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely.
Smack
A sharp slap or blow, typically one given with the palm of the hand
She gave Mark a smack across the face
Kiss
(of a ball) lightly touch (another ball) in passing.
Smack
A flavour or taste of
Anything with even a modest smack of hops dries the palate
Kiss
A touch or caress with the lips
A quick kiss on the cheek
Smack
A single-masted sailing boat used for coasting or fishing
The village still harbours a few fishing smacks
Kiss
A slight touch of a ball against another ball.
Smack
Strike (someone or something), typically with the palm of the hand and as a punishment
Jessica smacked his face, quite hard
Kiss
A small cake, biscuit, or sweet.
Smack
Part (one's lips) noisily in eager anticipation or enjoyment of food or drink
Morgan drank half the Scotch and smacked his lips
Kiss
To touch or caress with the lips as an expression of affection, greeting, respect, or amorousness.
Smack
Crack (a whip)
The four postilions smacked their whips in concert
Kiss
To touch lightly or gently
Flowers that were kissed by dew.
Smack
Have a flavour of; taste of
The tea smacked strongly of tannin
Kiss
To strike lightly; brush against
Barely kissed the other car with the bumper.
Smack
In a sudden and violent way
I ran smack into the back of a parked truck
Kiss
To engage in mutual touching or caressing with the lips.
Smack
Exactly; precisely
Our mother's house was smack in the middle of the city
Kiss
To come into light contact.
Smack
To press together and open (the lips) quickly and noisily, as in eating or tasting.
Kiss
A caress or touch with the lips.
Smack
To kiss noisily.
Kiss
A slight or gentle touch.
Smack
To strike sharply and with a loud noise.
Kiss
A small piece of candy, especially of chocolate.
Smack
To make or give a smack.
Kiss
A drop cookie made of egg whites and sugar.
Smack
To collide sharply and noisily
The ball smacked against the side of the house.
Kiss
(transitive) To touch with the lips or press the lips against, usually to show love or affection or passion, or as part of a greeting.
Smack
To have a distinctive flavor or taste. Used with of.
Kiss
(ambitransitive) To (cause to) touch lightly or slightly; to come into contact.
The nearside of the car just kissed a parked truck as he took the corner at high speed.
His ball kissed the black into the corner pocket.
Smack
To give an indication; be suggestive. Often used with of
"an agenda that does not smack of compromise" (Time).
Kiss
(intransitive) Of two or more people, to touch each other's lips together, usually to express love or affection or passion.
Smack
The loud sharp sound of smacking.
Kiss
To treat with fondness.
Smack
A noisy kiss.
Kiss
A touch with the lips, usually to express love or affection, or as a greeting.
Smack
A sharp blow or slap.
Kiss
An 'X' mark placed at the end of a letter or other type of message, signifying the bestowal of a kiss from the sender to the receiver.
Smack
A distinctive flavor or taste.
Kiss
A type of filled chocolate candy, shaped as if someone had kissed the top. See Hershey's Kisses.
Smack
A suggestion or trace.
Kiss
(astronomy) The alignment of two bodies in the solar system such that they have the same longitude when seen from Earth, conjunction.
Smack
A small amount; a smattering.
Kiss
(aviation) A low-speed mid-air collision between the envelopes of two hot air balloons, generally causing no damage or injury.
Smack
A fishing boat sailing under various rigs, according to size, and often having a well used to transport the catch to market.
Kiss
To salute with the lips, as a mark of affection, reverence, submission, forgiveness, etc.
He . . . kissed her lips with such a clamorous smack,That at the parting all the church echoed.
Smack
With a smack
Fell smack on her head.
Kiss
To touch gently, as if fondly or caressingly.
When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees.
Smack
Directly
"We were smack in the middle of another controversy about a public man's personal life" (Ellen Goodman).
Kiss
To make or give salutation with the lips in token of love, respect, etc.; as, kiss and make friends.
Smack
A distinct flavor, especially if slight.
Rice pudding with a smack of cinnamon
Kiss
To meet; to come in contact; to touch fondly.
Like fire and powder,Which as they kiss consume.
Rose, rose and clematis,Trail and twine and clasp and kiss.
Smack
A slight trace of something; a smattering.
Kiss
A salutation with the lips, as a token of affection, respect, etc.; as, a parting kiss; a kiss of reconciliation.
Last with a kiss, she took a long farewell.
Dear as remembered kisses after death.
Smack
(Northern England) A form of fried potato; a scallop.
Kiss
A small piece of confectionery.
Smack
A small sailing vessel, commonly rigged as a sloop, used chiefly in the coasting and fishing trade and often called a fishing smack
Kiss
The act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
Smack
A group of jellyfish.
Kiss
A cookie made of egg whites and sugar
Smack
A sharp blow; a slap. See also: spank.
Kiss
Any of several bite-sized candies
Smack
The sound of a loud kiss.
Kiss
A light glancing touch;
There was a brief kiss of their hands in passing
Smack
A quick, sharp noise, as of the lips when suddenly separated, or of a whip.
Kiss
Touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.;
The newly married couple kissed
She kissed her grandfather on the forehead when she entered the room
Smack
(transitive) To get the flavor of.
Kiss
Touch lightly or gently;
The blossoms were kissed by the soft rain
Smack
(intransitive) To have a particular taste; used with of.
Smack
(intransitive) To indicate or suggest something; used with of.
Her reckless behavior smacks of pride.
Smack
To slap or hit someone.
Smack
To make a smacking sound.
Smack
(especially outside of North America) To strike a child (usually on the buttocks) as a form of discipline. (normal U.S. and Canadian term spank)
Smack
To wetly separate the lips, making a noise, after tasting something or in expectation of a treat.
Smack
To kiss with a close compression of the lips, so as to make a sound when they separate.
Smack
As if with a smack or slap; smartly; sharply.
Right smack bang in the middle.
Smack
A small sailing vessel, commonly rigged as a sloop, used chiefly in the coasting and fishing trade.
Smack
Taste or flavor, esp. a slight taste or flavor; savor; tincture; as, a smack of bitter in the medicine. Also used figuratively.
So quickly they have taken a smack in covetousness.
They felt the smack of this world.
Smack
A small quantity; a taste.
Smack
A loud kiss; a buss.
Smack
A quick, sharp noise, as of the lips when suddenly separated, or of a whip.
Smack
A quick, smart blow; a slap.
Smack
As if with a smack or slap.
Smack
To have a smack; to be tinctured with any particular taste.
Smack
To have or exhibit indications of the presence of any character or quality.
All sects, all ages, smack of this vice.
Smack
To kiss with a close compression of the lips, so as to make a sound when they separate; to kiss with a sharp noise; to buss.
Smack
To make a noise by the separation of the lips after tasting anything.
Smack
To kiss with a sharp noise; to buss.
Smack
To open, as the lips, with an inarticulate sound made by a quick compression and separation of the parts of the mouth; to make a noise with, as the lips, by separating them in the act of kissing or after tasting.
Drinking off the cup, and smacking his lips with an air of ineffable relish.
Smack
To make a sharp noise by striking; to crack; as, to smack a whip.
Smack
A blow from a flat object (as an open hand)
Smack
The taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth
Smack
A sailing ship (usually rigged like a sloop or cutter) used in fishing and sailing along the coast
Smack
An enthusiastic kiss
Smack
The act of smacking something; a blow delivered with an open hand
Smack
Deliver a hard blow to;
The teacher smacked the student who had misbehaved
Smack
Have an element suggestive (of something);
His speeches smacked of racism
Smack
Have a distinctive or characteristic taste;
This tastes of nutmeg
Smack
Kiss lightly
Smack
Eat noisily by smacking one's lips
Smack
Directly;
He ran bang into the pole
Ran slap into her
Common Curiosities
Is a Smack always a Kiss?
No, a smack can also refer to a loud slap or hit.
Is a Kiss always silent?
Generally, a kiss is silent, but variations like a "smack" can come with sound.
What is a Smack?
A smack is a casual kiss that often comes with a sound, or it can refer to a loud hit.
What is a Kiss?
A kiss is a tender touch of lips usually to express affection or love.
Can a Kiss be casual?
Yes, a kiss can be casual, like a peck on the cheek.
Is a Smack usually loud?
Smacks are often loud due to their quick and casual nature.
What are the emotional connotations of a Smack?
A smack is generally more casual and less emotionally charged.
Can a Kiss be religious or ceremonial?
Yes, kisses can appear in religious or ceremonial contexts.
Does Smack have variations like Kiss?
Smack doesn't have as many specific variations as a kiss.
Is Kiss a noun or a verb?
"Kiss" can be both a noun and a verb.
What are the emotional connotations of a Kiss?
A kiss is often considered emotionally deep and meaningful.
Can you Smack an object?
Yes, to smack can also mean to hit something with force.
Is Smack a noun or a verb?
"Smack" can also be both a noun and a verb.
Can a Kiss also refer to a light touch?
Yes, "kiss" can refer to a light touch or contact between two objects.
Which is more formal, a Kiss or a Smack?
A kiss is usually considered more formal and significant than a smack.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
