sage

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈsāj 

1

: one (such as a profound philosopher) distinguished for wisdom

2

: a mature or venerable person of sound judgment

sage

2 of 3

adjective

sager; sagest

1

: proceeding from or characterized by wisdom, prudence, and good judgment

sage advice

2

a

: wise through reflection and experience

b

archaic : grave, solemn

sageness noun

sage

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

a

: a European perennial mint (Salvia officinalis) with grayish-green aromatic leaves used especially in flavoring meats

broadly : salvia

b

: the fresh or dried leaves of sage

2

: sagebrush

3

: a light grayish green

Illustration of sage

• ³sage 1a

Synonyms of sage

Noun (1)

• scholar

Adjective

• wise
• prudent

Choose the Right Synonym for sage

wise, sage, sapient, judicious, prudent, sensible, sane mean having or showing sound judgment.

wise suggests great understanding of people and of situations and unusual discernment and judgment in dealing with them.

wise beyond his tender years

sage suggests wide experience, great learning, and wisdom.

the sage advice of my father

sapient suggests great sagacity and discernment.

the sapient musings of an old philosopher

judicious stresses a capacity for reaching wise decisions or just conclusions.

judicious parents using kindness and discipline in equal measure

prudent suggests the exercise of restraint guided by sound practical wisdom and discretion.

a prudent decision to wait out the storm

sensible applies to action guided and restrained by good sense and rationality.

a sensible woman who was not fooled by flattery

sane stresses mental soundness, rationality, and levelheadedness.

remained sane even in times of crises

Examples of sage in a Sentence

Adjective

a sage suggestion that anyone should think long and hard before deciding to marry

the young prince made a pilgrimage to the sage, hoping to learn the meaning of life

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One of Altman’s batch mates in the first Y Combinator cohort was Aaron Swartz, a brilliant but troubled coder who died by suicide in 2013 and is now remembered in many tech circles as something of a sage. —Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

The broad oval, gray-green leaves of sage can be used fresh or dried to be used to flavor your Thanksgiving stuffing or favorite soups and stews. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2026

Botanist Naomi Fraga has spent more than 15 years attempting to collect seeds from the rare Death Valley sage for safekeeping in a vault of native California seeds. —Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 6 Apr. 2026

Other projects have or would have endangered the bleached sandhill skipper butterfly, the sage-grouse, and steamboat buckwheat. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *sapius, from Latin sapere to taste, have good taste, be wise; akin to Oscan sipus knowing, Old Saxon ansebbian to perceive

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French sage, salge, from Latin salvia, from salvus healthy; from its use as a medicinal herb — more at safe

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sage

• clary sage
• pineapple sage
• Russian sage
• sage cheese
• sage grouse
• scarlet sage

Rhymes for sage

• age
• gauge
• phage
• plage
• rage
• stage
• wage
• alienage
• assuage
• backstage
• bocage
• downstage

Kids Definition

sage

1 of 3 adjective

ˈsāj 

sager; sagest

: wise entry 2 sense 1, prudent

sage advice

sagely adverb

sageness noun

sage

2 of 3 noun

: a very wise person

sage

3 of 3 noun

1

: a European mint with fragrant leaves that is used especially to flavor meat

2

: sagebrush

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English sage "wise," from early French sage (same meaning), derived from Latin sapere "to be wise, taste, have good taste" — related to insipid, savant

Noun

Middle English sage "sage plant," from early French sage, salge (same meaning), from Latin salvia "sage plant used for health," from salvus "safe, healthy" — related to safe, save

Medical Definition

sage

noun

ˈsāj 

: a perennial mint of the genus Salvia (S. officinalis) having grayish green pungent and aromatic leaves that are much used in flavoring foods and as a mild tonic and astringent

broadly : any plant of the genus Salvia

Biographical Definition

Sage

biographical name

ˈsāj 

Russell 1816–1906 American financier