Crafty means clever in a sneaky or cunning way. A crafty person uses their intelligence to trick others or get what they want through schemes rather than honesty. When a fox in a story uses crafty methods to steal chickens, it's finding clever ways around the farmer's defenses.

The word sits between smart and dishonest. Someone crafty uses their smarts in sly, calculating ways to manipulate situations or deceive others. A crafty student might figure out exactly which excuses their teacher will believe, or cleverly deflect blame onto someone else when caught doing something wrong. A crafty villain in a movie doesn't rely on strength but on elaborate plans and deception.

Sometimes crafty describes harmless cleverness, like a crafty solution to a tricky problem. But usually it suggests someone is being a bit too clever, using their wits in ways that feel manipulative or underhanded. If your sister comes up with a crafty plan to get you in trouble while making herself look innocent, she's being sneaky and calculating.