adj
Uncommon
sane
sayn
Sane (adj) means having a healthy, rational mind; not mentally disturbed. Example: “After weeks of chaos, a quiet weekend kept her sane.”
adj
1
Having a healthy, rational mind; not mentally disturbed.
"After weeks of chaos, a quiet weekend kept her sane."
"The doctor confirmed the patient was sane and fit to stand trial."
"Taking a daily walk helps me stay sane during stressful weeks."
2
Sensible and reasonable, especially of a plan, decision, or approach.
"It was the only sane option left on the table."
"Taking the earlier train seemed the sane choice, given the weather forecast."
"It is a sane plan to save a little money every month."
How to use sane
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMentally healthy and rational, or just plain sensible.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
stay sane
a sane decision
perfectly sane
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sane.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- saner
- Superlative
- sanest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
After weeks of chaos, a quiet weekend kept her _____.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin sanus, meaning "healthy" — the same root gives us "sanity" and "sanitary".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sane
See all rhymes for sane →Frequently asked questions
What does “sane” mean?
The word “sane” means having a healthy, rational mind; not mentally disturbed. In plain terms, mentally healthy and rational, or just plain sensible.
How do you pronounce “sane”?
“Sane” is pronounced sayn (/seɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “sane” in a sentence?
Here is “sane” used in a sentence: “After weeks of chaos, a quiet weekend kept her sane.”
What is another word for “sane”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sane” include balanced, compos mentis, in possession of one's faculties, lucid, rational and reasonable.
What is the opposite of “sane”?
The opposite of “sane” — its antonyms — are insane, unbalanced, crazy, nonsane and unsane.
What part of speech is “sane”?
“Sane” is an adjective.
Where does the word “sane” come from?
The word “sane” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin sanus, meaning "healthy" — the same root gives us "sanity" and "sanitary".
Is “sane” a common word?
“Sane” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between sane and rational?
"Sane" describes having a healthy, functioning mind overall, or a plan that is sensible, while "rational" more narrowly describes thinking or reasoning that follows logic. A person can be sane but still make an irrational choice in a single instance, whereas "rational" focuses specifically on the logic behind a decision.
Can sane describe a plan or decision, not just a person?
Yes, "sane" is commonly used to describe a plan, decision, or approach that is sensible and reasonable, not just a person's mental state. For example, "a sane budget" means a realistic and reasonable one, extending the word beyond its clinical sense.
Is sane a formal or clinical term?
"Sane" can be used both in everyday speech, to mean sensible or level-headed, and in more formal legal or medical contexts, where it refers to having a healthy, rational mind not affected by mental disturbance. The intended sense usually depends on context.
