sass

¹

[ sas ]

noun

, Chiefly New England, Midland, and Southern U.S.

1. stewed fruit; fruit sauce.
2. fresh vegetables.

sass

²

[ sas ]

noun

1. impudent or disrespectful back talk:

   Both parents refuse to take any sass from their kids.

verb (used with object)

1. to answer back in an impudent manner:

   Don't sass your mother.

sass

/ sæs /

noun

1. insolent or impudent talk or behaviour

verb

1. to talk or answer back in such a way

Word History and Origins

Origin of sass¹

First recorded in 1765–75; variant of sauce

Origin of sass²

1855–60, Americanism; back formation from sassy ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sass¹

C20: back formation from sassy ¹

Example Sentences

The richness of the starter, offered with grilled bread, is foiled by the sass of sriracha.

From Washington Post

We use them in memes and GIFs to put a generic face to anger and sass, to sauciness and craven desire.

From Washington Post

Zach Galifianakis invited the president to chat on his Internet talk show “Between Two Ferns,” and boy, did Obama sass Zach back.

From The Daily Beast

There was even some unexpected sass, like when she totally dissed Liza Minnelli.

From The Daily Beast

Cleanses can also serve as a fresh start and a transition into a long-term, health way of eating, says Sass.

From The Daily Beast

The ladies brought their A game with smarts, female sensibility, and sass showing in spades.

From The Daily Beast

Every woman on the planet has sass and smart-ass qualities in them, but it seems sometimes only black women are defined by it.

From The Daily Beast

Mis' Calvert, the old lady, she sent me to fetch this basket o' garden sass to Mis' Chester: an' this letter was for you, sir.

From Project Gutenberg

I want to hear that man sass you over the phone, if he can get in a word edgewise, and you on the other end of the line.

From Project Gutenberg

If you don't 'tend to your bizness, or give me any more o' your sass, I'll pound the melt out o' you.

From Project Gutenberg

He hab swore a blue streak at him, and called him a d—— ab'lishener, jess 'cause Massa K—— wudn't get mad and sass him back.

From Project Gutenberg

Kingdom come, is yo' gittin' ter de pint when yo' kin see sich gwines-on an' not r'ar right spang up an' sass dat 'oman?

From Project Gutenberg