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• sage
  sage

  noun

  a profoundly wise person; a person famed for wisdom.
• Sage
  Sage

  noun

  Russell, 1816–1906, U.S. financier.

sage

¹ American  

[seyj] / seɪdʒ /

noun

1. a profoundly wise person; a person famed for wisdom.

   Synonyms:

   philosopher

   Antonyms:

   fool

2. someone venerated for the possession of wisdom, judgment, and experience.

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adjective

sager, sagest

1. wise, judicious, or prudent.

   sage advice.

   Synonyms:

   sagacious

sage ² American  

[seyj] / seɪdʒ /

noun

1. any plant or shrub belonging to the genus Salvia, of the mint family.

2. an herb, Salvia officinalis, whose grayish-green leaves are used medicinally and in cooking.

3. the leaves of the medicinal and culinary herb Salvia officinalis.

4. sagebrush.

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Sage ³ American  

[seyj] / seɪdʒ /

noun

1. Russell, 1816–1906, U.S. financier.

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sage ¹ British  

/ seɪdʒ /

noun

1. a man revered for his profound wisdom

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adjective

1. profoundly wise or prudent

2. obsolete solemn

sage ² British  

/ seɪdʒ /

noun

1. a perennial Mediterranean plant, Salvia officinalis, having grey-green leaves and purple, blue, or white flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

2. the leaves of this plant, used in cooking for flavouring

3. short for sagebrush

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Other Word Forms

• sageness
  noun
• sagely
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of sage¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin sapius (unattested), from Latin sap(ere) “to taste, have taste, smell, smell of; to have sense, discern, know, be wise” + -idus; see origin at sapient, -id ⁴

Origin of sage²

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English sa ( u ) ge, from Middle French sau ( l ) ge, from Latin salvia, derivative of salvus safe (so named from its supposed healing powers)

Explanation

Use the word sage for someone or something wise and judicious. Thanks to the sage advice of your friend, you didn't write your teacher an angry e-mail! Although you might think of a wizard when you hear the word sage, really it means a wise man. Today you see it used to refer to someone who has insight in a particular field. If someone is a policy sage, he knows just what advice to give politicians to make them understand the issue and respond successfully to it. In a totally unrelated use, there is also a plant called sage that is useful in home remedies and cooking.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sage Sage sager sagest

The colorful aesthetic follows into the kitchen, which is adorned with sage green cabinetry, a wooden island, and state-of-the-art appliances.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

She hopes the golden yarrow will spread, and she’s especially proud of the large white sage she grew from seeds that a friend gave her.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026

Upon entering the home, guests are greeted with an expansive living area that features wooden beams on the ceiling, French doors that open up to the balcony, a cozy fireplace, and a sage green bar.

From MarketWatch ● May 28, 2026

In several essays, including one titled “The Wandering Jew,” Elie Wiesel describes his friendship with a mysterious, charismatic sage who dresses like a beggar but whose Jewish learning enthralls all those who meet him.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

Nuthatches, warblers, sparrows, and the occasional wood dove—perfectly acceptable birds all, to be sure, but where were the sage and mysterious owls?

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

“When you’re trying to describe your company in a couple of words, there’s not much you can do in the rare-earth space other than using the name rare earth, critical minerals, critical metals,” said Sage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Any positive impact on oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could drive oil prices down, which would ease inflation concerns, push down bond yields and provide relief for gold, Sage says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

With speculative dollar longs already looking stretched, even a small shift in rate-hike expectations could spur a substantial reversal, according to Thomas Urano, co-chief investment officer at Sage Advisory.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

Crystal Palace have appointed Lens manager Pierre Sage as their head coach on a three-year contract.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026

“Okay, Zuri. About ten other prospective applicants will join us for a brief tour, and you can learn about Howard University,” Sage says.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

Fox News’ Jessica sager contributed to this report.

From Fox News ● Aug. 28, 2019

Stonyhurst's sager Jesuits were more up to date in their psychology.

From Time Magazine Archive

Most Britons, as Lord Byron once put it, "till by losing rendered sager, will back their own opinions by a wager."

From Time Magazine Archive

How about the remark of reputedly sager and more worldly-wise of the founding fathers: "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

From Time Magazine Archive

So the Grand Old Casuist says, Speaking with the sager caution of his earlier calmer days.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 99, November 1, 1890 by Various

But joining the Little Red Book author in a shrine to the all-time sagest minds in golf would be his English counterpart, John Jacobs.

From Golf Digest ● Oct. 16, 2013

Petrolle is one of the ring's sagest fighters.

From Time Magazine Archive

Uncle Giorgio was the sagest bandit chieftain in Sicily and, as a man of rugged common sense, considerably disturbed about his favorite nephew, Aquila.

From Time Magazine Archive

Perhaps not the sagest fellow to counsel the future Queen.

From Time Magazine Archive

“The impressions he made upon me suggested he was not of the sagest, nor of the most excellent of men.”

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson