sanity
Americannoun
-
the state of being sane; soundness of mind.
-
soundness of judgment.
- Synonyms:
- reasonableness, sensibleness, rationality, reason
noun
-
the state of being sane
-
good sense or soundness of judgment
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of sanity
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English sanite, from Latin sānitās; equivalent to sane + -ity
Explanation
Sanity is the opposite of insanity. When you have sanity, you're mentally healthy and not acting crazy. Sanity is a word for having a healthy state of mind — people with sanity don't have any loose marbles. Outside of mental hospitals, people often use this word in an exaggerated way when they've had a stressful, difficult day, shouting "I'm losing my sanity!" But if you actually lost your sanity, you'd need some serious medical attention. Besides, it usually takes more than one bad day to push someone over the edge.
Vocabulary lists containing sanity
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
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Schooled
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A Lesson Before Dying
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Are there things that you do for yourself to maintain your own sanity?
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Ms. Finley is correct that there is a welcome trend toward sanity in higher education.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
"This notion of restoring truth and sanity is punitive. It's unnecessary. It's un-American, because great countries do not hide from their history. We learn from it," Spears said.
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
Is this the best way to handle the situation ethically while preserving our sanity, or are there better options?
From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026
As young as the boy was, I thought he would question my sanity if I told the truth.
From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
