sapient

UK: /ˈseɪpɪənt/ US: /ˈseɪpiənt/ ,(sā′pē ənt)

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

sa•pi•ent /ˈseɪpiənt/   adj. 

1. having or showing wisdom.
2. of or resembling modern humans in structure, ability to think, etc.:
   sapient apes that became the ancestors of humanity.

sa•pi•ence, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sa•pi•ent  (sā′pē ənt), adj. 

1. having or showing great wisdom or sound judgment.

• Latin sapient- (stem of sapiēns, present participle of sapere to be wise, literally, to taste, have taste), equivalent. to sapi- verb stem + -ent- -ent
• late Middle English sapyent 1425–75

sa′pi•ence, sa′pi•en•cy, n. 
sa′pi•ent•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sapient / ˈseɪpɪənt/ adjective

1. wise or sagacious

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin sapere to taste

ˈsapience noun

ˈsapiently adverb