From the National Association for Gifted Children:
"A gifted person is someone who shows, or has the potential for showing, an exceptional level of performance in one or more areas of expression. Some of these abilities are very general and can affect a broad spectrum of the person's life, such as leadership skills or the ability to think creatively. Some are very specific talents and are only evident in particular circumstances, such as a special aptitude in mathematics, science, or music. The term giftedness provides a general reference to this spectrum of abilities without being specific or dependent on a single measure or index" (Delisle & Galbraith, 2002, p. 15).
From the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001:
"The term 'gifted and talented,' when used with respect to students, children or youth, means students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities" (Delisle & Galbraith, 2002, p. 15).
From the State of Texas:
“‘[G]ifted and talented student’ means a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who: (1) exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area; (2) possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or (3) excels in a specific academic field” (Texas Education Code Ann. § 29.121).
From Edward H., Age 12,:
"GT is like Special Ed, but for smart kids."