sake

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈsāk 

1

: end, purpose

for the sake of argument

2

a

: the good, advantage, or enhancement of some entity (such as an ideal)

… free to pursue learning for its own sake.

—M. S. Eisenhower

b

: personal or social welfare, safety, or benefit

sake

2 of 2

noun (2)

sa·​ke ˈsä-kē 

variants or saki

: a Japanese alcoholic beverage of fermented rice often served hot

Examples of sake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For the sake of comparison, below is the same breakdown for Sanchez in the Premier League last season. — Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Some appear to be seeking virality for virality’s sake, maybe to cash in on Facebook’s Content Monetization program. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 13 Aug. 2026

Organizations that lock into proprietary systems too early risk struggling to adopt better tools as the field advances; the goal is to prove value, not to run pilots for their own sake. — Renu Navale, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

When, in late 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signaled the potential for Japan to intervene in a conflict over Taiwan, China suspended more than $86 million in purchases of Japanese seafood and sake. — Caitlin Welsh, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, dispute, guilt, purpose, from Old English sacu guilt, action at law; akin to Old High German sahha action at law, cause, Old English sēcan to seek — more at seek

Noun (2)

Japanese sake

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1682, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sake

• art for art's sake
• for goodness' sake
• for heaven's sake
• for old times' sake
• for simplicity's sake
• for the sake of appearances
• for the sake of it
• for the sake of simplicity
• just for the sake of it

Rhymes for sake

• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake
• jake

Kids Definition

sake

1 of 2 noun

ˈsāk 

1

: goal sense 2, purpose

for the sake of argument

2

: the good of something : advantage

the sake of our country

sake

2 of 2 noun

sa·​ke

variants or saki

ˈsäk-ē 

: a Japanese alcoholic drink made from rice

Etymology

Noun

Old English sacu "guilt, legal action"

Noun

Japanese