What does "sage" mean?
A very wise person or spiritual teacher; someone of gravity and wisdom, especially, a teacher venerable for years, and of sound judgment and prudence; a grave or stoic philosopher.
Sage
/seɪd͡ʒ/ adj, intj, name, noun, verb
adj, intj, name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A very wise person or spiritual teacher; someone of gravity and wisdom, especially, a teacher venerable for years, and of sound judgment and prudence; a grave or stoic philosopher.
- Grammar: sage is listed as adj, intj, name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: philosopher, ace, acute, admonisher.
- Useful contrasts: unwiser, blockhead, buffoon.
- Usage evidence: Better to be a happy fool than an unhappy sage.
How to use "sage"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "sage" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "sage" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "sage" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "sage" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "sage" is acting as adj, intj, name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "philosopher" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "sage", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A very wise person or spiritual teacher; someone of gravity and wisdom, especially, a teacher venerable for years, and of sound judgment and prudence; a grave or stoic philosopher.
"’Tis certain, that, while we aſpire to the magnanimous Firmneſs of the philoſophic Sage, and endeavour to confine our Pleaſures altogether within our own Minds, we may, at laſt, render our Philoſophy, like that of Epictetus and other Stoics, only a more refin’d Syſtem of Selfiſhneſs, and reaſon ourſelves out of all Virtue, as well as ſocial Enjoyment."
- 2 The plant Salvia officinalis and savory spice produced from it; also planted for ornamental purposes. uncountable, usually
- 3 aromatic fresh or dried grey-green leaves used widely as seasoning for meats and fowl and game etc wordnet
- 4 Any plant in the genus Salvia. uncountable, usually
- 5 a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom wordnet
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Any of a number of plants such as sagebrush considered to be similar to Salvia officinalis, mostly because they are small shrubs and have gray foliage or are aromatic. uncountable, usually
- 7 any of various plants of the genus Salvia; a cosmopolitan herb wordnet
Verb
- 1 The act of using the word or option sage in the email field or a checkbox of an imageboard when posting a reply. Internet
"Reminder to sage and report."
Adjective
- 1 Wise.
"Harry the fift is crownd, vp vanitie, / Downe royall ſtate, all you ſage counſailers, hence, / And to the Engliſh Court aſſemble now / From euery region, apes of idleneſſe: […]"
- 2 Grave; serious; solemn. obsolete
Adjective
- 1 of the grey-green color of sage leaves wordnet
- 2 having wisdom that comes with age and experience wordnet
Intj
- 1 Word used in the email field of imageboards to prevent a bump of the post. Used as an option rather than a word in some imageboard software. Internet
"sage in all fields"
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname transferred from the nickname. countable, uncountable
- 2 A male given name from English. countable, uncountable
"She wanted to give the child a unique, meaningful name; among those she and Linda liked, she said, were Laurel and Lavender. Or if it was a boy, perhaps Sage . “Why not Spinach or Cabbage?” Brian had scoffed."
- 3 A female given name from English. countable, uncountable
- 4 One of the triune gods of the Horned God in Wicca, representing a man, older than a middle-aged Father and boyish Master countable, uncountable
- 5 A place name:; A neighbourhood along Trout Lake Road, city of North Bay, Ontario, Canada. countable, uncountable
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 A place name:; An unincorporated community in Izard County, Arkansas, United States. countable, uncountable
- 7 A place name:; A census-designated place in Riverside County, California, United States. countable, uncountable
- 8 A place name:; An unincorporated community in Burnet County, Texas, United States. countable, uncountable
- 9 A place name:; A ghost town in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Better to be a happy fool than an unhappy sage."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "sage"?
Common synonyms include: philosopher, ace, acute, admonisher, aristotle, aromatic herb.
How do you use "sage" in a sentence?
Better to be a happy fool than an unhappy sage.
How do you pronounce "sage"?
Pronounced /seɪd͡ʒ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English sage, from Old French sage (11th century), from Vulgar Latin *sapium, from Latin sapere (“to taste, to discern, to be wise”). The noun meaning "man of profound wisdom" is recorded from circa 1300. Originally applied to the Seven Sages of Greece.
Etymology 2
From Middle English sauge, from Middle French sauge, from Old French salje, from Latin salvia, from salvus (“healthy”), see safe. Doublet of salvia.
Etymology 3
Borrowed from Japanese sage (sage), from 下げる (sageru, “to lower”). From 2channel.
Etymology 4
* As an English and French surname, from sage, a nickname for a wise person. The given name, in general use since the 1990s, is also associated with the sage plant. Compare Desage, Lesage. * As an Irish surname, variant of Savage. * As a German surname, from a placename derived from the noun sege (“sedge”) (see sedge).
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