Say it like this
- Who's the SME for billing?
- Let's loop in the database SME.
- She's the SME on our search ranking.
Use it at work
Finding the expert
- Who's the SME for this service?
- Is there an SME on the data team I can ask?
Bringing them in
- Let's loop in the SME before we decide.
- Can we get the security SME to review this?
Describing your role
- I'm the SME for our CI pipeline.
- I act as the SME on payments for two teams.
Don't say this
Use an article: "the SME for payments" or "an SME".
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| SME | subject matter expert, a person | tech and project teams | finding who knows a topic |
| SME (business) | small or medium-sized company | banks, governments, news | talking about company size |
| tech lead | leads a team's technical work | engineering teams | team leadership, not one topic |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. You need someone who knows the payments system well. What do you ask in Slack?
2. Let's ask the security _______ to review the design before we start building.
3. Which sentence uses SME correctly?
4. Rewrite using SME: 'Raj is the person who knows the billing system better than anyone, so ask him.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"Who's the SME for billing?"
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More about SME
Real examples(3)
- in a design review
"We need the SME for authentication to sign off before we ship."
- in Slack
"Does anyone know who the SME is for the old reporting service?"
- in a job description
"You will act as the SME for our data platform and mentor other engineers."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. SME has two common meanings. If the context is unclear, write "subject matter expert" the first time.
- ✕She is the SME of payments.✓She is the SME for payments. / She is the SME on payments.
Use "for" or "on" with the topic.
- ✕Our company is an SME expert.✓Our company is an SME. / I am a subject matter expert.
Do not mix the two meanings in one sentence.
Other forms(2)
- subject matter expert full form
"We need a subject matter expert in tax law."
- small and medium-sized enterprise other meaning
"The bank offers loans to SMEs."
Often used with(3)
- the SME for X · the expert on a topic
- loop in the SME · add the expert to a conversation
- SME review · a check by the expert before sign-off
Similar words(3)
- expert · general word
- go-to person · informal
- domain expert · common in data and product teams
Opposites(2)
- generalist
- newcomer
Questions(4)
- What does SME stand for at work?
- In most teams, SME means "subject matter expert", the person who knows a topic best.
- What does SME mean in business?
- In business and banking, SME often means "small and medium-sized enterprise", a smaller company.
- How do you pronounce SME?
- Most people say the letters, "ess-em-ee". Some say it as a word, "smee".
- Is it 'a SME' or 'an SME'?
- If you say the letters, use "an SME" because it starts with the sound "ess".
