sapient
Americanadjective
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having or showing great wisdom or sound judgment.
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having or showing self-awareness.
sapient life forms.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sapient
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English sapyent, from Latin sapient- (stem of sapiēns, present participle of sapere “to be wise,” literally, “to taste, have taste”), equivalent to sapi- verb stem + -ent- adjective suffix; see -ent
Explanation
Use the adjective sapient to describe someone who always gives the smartest advice, like your brilliant, insightful teacher or your wise little brother. Calling someone sapient is a compliment, since it means "insightful and wise," although it's often used in a sarcastic way: "My sapient adviser said I should major in Communications." The phrase "sapient life forms" shows up frequently in science fiction, as well. The Latin root is the verb sapere, "to be wise," which is also the origin of sapiens, "wise man," as in Homo sapiens, or the human species.
Vocabulary lists containing sapient
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.
In the game, she says, all of the human characters have different ideas about how sapient AIs are, and how they should be treated.
From The Verge • Feb. 1, 2019
Aphra says things like: well, eventually humanity’s going to be extinct and there will be a race of sapient beetle people living here instead, so really my problems aren’t all that important.
From The Verge • Sep. 15, 2017
Perhaps some mistake that all sapient races make.
From Salon • Jun. 17, 2012
Well, there are still plenty of ways that some promising sapient species might rise up, looking skyward with high hopes, and yet — even so — fail to achieve its potential.
From Salon • Jun. 17, 2012
Verb. sap.—you are sapient, I know, like your Sire— And—you'll take this strange "kettle of fish" off the fire!
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 93., October 1, 1887 by Various
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.
