sapient

[ sey-pee-uhnt ]

adjective

1. having or showing great wisdom or sound judgment.
2. having or showing self-awareness:

   sapient life forms.

sapient

/ ˈseɪpɪənt /

adjective

1. ironic.
   wise or sagacious

Derived Forms

• ˈsapience, noun
• ˈsapiently, adverb

Other Words From

• sa·pi·ence sa·pi·en·cy noun
• sa·pi·ent·ly adverb
• un·sa·pi·ent adjective
• un·sa·pi·ent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sapient¹

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; -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of sapient¹

C15: from Latin sapere to taste

Example Sentences

Some affirm that he wrote to please royalty, but if so why did he not condemn the custom to appease the wrath of a sapient king.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore why be sapient and solemn about it, like an editorial in a newspaper?

From Project Gutenberg

One sapient editor said that the pearls in the mussels in Salmon and Connecticut Rivers caused the disturbance.

From Project Gutenberg

As this sapient precept dropped oracularly from his lips, a word at a time, his figure faded and turned pale.

From Project Gutenberg

You are really inimitable, you stern guardians of morals and most sapient defenders of the immaculateness of the State!

From Project Gutenberg