sage

UK: /ˈseɪdʒ/ US: /seɪdʒ/ ,(sāj)

Inflections of 'sage' (adj):

sager

adj comparative

sagest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sage¹ /seɪdʒ/   n., adj., sag•er, sag•est. 
n. [countable]

1. a very wise person:
   consulting the village sage for advice.

adj. 

2. wise or prudent:
   sage advice.

sage² /seɪdʒ/   n. [uncountable]

1. Plant Biology, Food a plant belonging to the mint family, esp. one with grayish green leaves used in cooking.
2. Plant Biology the leaves themselves:
   turkey stuffing with sage.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sage¹  (sāj), n., adj., sag•er, sag•est. 
n. 

1. a profoundly wise person;
   a person famed for wisdom.
2. someone venerated for the possession of wisdom, judgment, and experience.

adj. 

3. wise, judicious, or prudent:
   sage advice.

• Late Latin sapidus wise, tasteful (Latin: tasty), equivalent. to sap(ere) to know, be wise, origin, originally to taste (see sapient) + -idus -id⁴
• Old French
• Middle English (noun, nominal and adjective, adjectival) 1250–1300

sage′ly, adv. 
sage′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. philosopher.
• 3. sagacious.

Antonyms

• 1. fool.

sage²  (sāj), n. 

1. Plant Biology any plant or shrub belonging to the genus Salvia, of the mint family.
2. Plant Biology an herb, Salvia officinalis, whose grayish-green leaves are used in medicine and for seasoning in cookery.
3. Plant Biology the leaves themselves.
4. Plant Biology sagebrush.

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

Sage  (sāj), n. 

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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sage / seɪdʒ/ noun

1. a man revered for his profound wisdom

adjective

1. profoundly wise or prudent
2. solemn

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French, from Latin sapere to be sensible; see sapient

ˈsagely adverb

ˈsageness noun

sage / 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

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French saulge, from Latin salvia, from salvus safe, in good health (from the curative properties attributed to the plant)