saying

American  

[sey-ing] / ˈseɪ ɪŋ /

noun

1. something said, especially a proverb or apothegm.

   Synonyms:

   aphorism, saw, adage, maxim

---

idioms

1. go without saying, to be completely self-evident; be understood.

   It goes without saying that you are welcome to visit us at any time.

saying British  

/ ˈseɪɪŋ /

noun

1. a maxim, adage, or proverb

---

Etymology

Origin of saying

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (gerund); see say ¹, -ing ¹

Explanation

A short, common, and easy-to-remember phrase is a saying. When class ends right before your turn to give a speech, you might use the saying, "Saved by the bell!" A saying is basically the same as an aphorism, an adage, or a proverb, usually offering some kind of wisdom. If you accidentally break your sister's favorite teacup, you might think of the saying "To err is human, to forgive divine," which means that everyone makes mistakes but only truly remarkable people are able to forgive these mistakes. You should probably also remind yourself of the saying, "Honesty is the best policy."

Example Sentences

Kimmel rejected the criticism, saying his joke had been a reference to the couple's 24-year age difference.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Modica declined an interview in a brief email, saying, “I think people have probably heard enough from me by now.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

By late Thursday, the company Instructure, which owns Canvas, posted an update on its website saying that Canvas was "available for most users".

From BBC • May 8, 2026

It comes down to the outlook: Planet Fitness lowered its annual forecasts for both earnings and revenue, saying that sign-ups disappointed.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

Then a blur seemed to move over the scene, for Karel was saying, “Corrie, I want you to meet my fiancée.”

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• saw
• statement