sake

The word “sake” means the purpose, reason, or benefit behind doing something (used in phrases like "for the sake of"). In plain terms, the reason or benefit that makes an action worthwhile — almost always used in set phrases such as "for the sake of.".

“Sake” is pronounced SAYK (/ˈseɪ̯k/ in IPA).

Here is “sake” used in a sentence: “She took the extra shift for the sake of the extra money.”

“Sake” is a noun.

The word “sake” comes from Old English. From Old English sacu, "cause, dispute, legal case," related to the verb "seek.".

“Sake” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

"For the sake of" means for the benefit, purpose, or reason of something. Saying you do something "for the sake of your family" means for their good, while "for the sake of clarity" means in order to be clear. It points to the aim or beneficiary behind an action.

No. Despite the identical spelling, they are unrelated. The English "sake" meaning purpose or benefit comes from Old English and rhymes with "cake." The Japanese sake, a rice wine, is a separate loanword pronounced roughly "sah-keh." Only the spelling coincides; their origins and meanings are entirely different.

You might say, "For the sake of argument, let's assume it's true," meaning for the purpose of discussion. Or, "She stayed late for the sake of the team," meaning for its benefit. The word almost always appears in the phrase "for the sake of" rather than standing alone.