sass

¹ American  

[sas] / sæs /

noun

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

1. stewed fruit; fruit sauce.

2. fresh vegetables.

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sass ² American  

[sas] / sæs /

noun

1. impudent or disrespectful back talk.

   Both parents refuse to take any sass from their kids.

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verb (used with object)

sasses, present (3rd person singular) sassed, past participle, past sassing present participle

1. to answer back in an impudent manner.

   Don't sass your mother.

sass British  

/ sæs /

noun

1. insolent or impudent talk or behaviour

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verb

1. to talk or answer back in such a way

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• sassing
  present
• sassed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• sass
  simple
• sasses
  simple
• have sassed
  perfect
• has sassed
  perfect
• am sassing
  progressive
• are sassing
  progressive
• is sassing
  progressive
• have been sassing
  perfect progressive
• has been sassing
  perfect progressive

Past

• sassed
  simple
• had sassed
  perfect
• was sassing
  progressive
• were sassing
  progressive
• had been sassing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will sass
  simple
• will have sassed
  perfect
• will be sassing
  progressive
• will have been sassing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of sass¹

First recorded in 1765–75; variant of sauce

Origin of sass²

1855–60, back formation from sassy ¹

Explanation

Sass is a smart alecky or impudent reply. Your middle school teacher might warn you that once you get to high school, they won't put up with your sass. Use sass as a noun — or a verb, meaning to talk in a cheeky way: "Don't you dare sass your grandmother!" When someone teases you or speaks in an almost rude manner, they give you sass. This word emerged in the 19th century from the adjective sassy, which began as a variation on saucy, from the idea that words can be zesty, sharp, or spicy.

Example Sentences

For years, football fans have loved her sass and the excitement she exudes as she shouts out her picks, grabbing the anointed team’s helmet and sometimes tossing the opponent’s.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026

Still, for all of the song's sass and flippancy, Raye is deadly serious about snaring a partner.

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2025

Former child star Danielle Spencer, who brought sass as little sis Dee in the 1970s sitcom ‘What’s Happening!!,’ died Monday after battling cancer.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 2025

Olson’s penchant for petulance, spite and sass while still remaining loveable — See: Fox’s short-lived "The Mick."

From Salon • May 16, 2025

“I ran away when I heard my sass and sassur plotting to get rid of me so my husband could marry again and get another dowry.”

From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan