adj
sapient
Sapient (adj) means showing good judgement and wisdom; wise and knowledgeable.
adj
1
Showing good judgement and wisdom; wise and knowledgeable.
2
Trying to look wise or knowledgeable, often without really being so.
"In Europe I had been told by sapient academics that there wasn't really any class system in the United States: well, you couldn't prove that by the conditions in California's agribusinesses, or indeed its urban factories."
— Christopher Hitchens, A Second Identity: On Becoming an (Anglo) American (2010)
3
(followed by 'of') Aware of or knowledgeable about something.
4
Describes a species or creature that has intelligence or a strong sense of self-awareness.
"Nessus had not spoken mockingly; but Speaker reacted with rage. "What sapient being would not fear such power?""
— Larry Niven, Rosette (1970)
"It was inhabited by a sapient humanoid race, and some of them were civilized enough to put it in Class V, and Colonial Office doctrine on Class V planets was rigid."
— Henry Beam Piper, Naudsonce (1962)
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sapient.
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
Etymology
The adjective is derived from Late Middle English sapient (“learned, wise”), from Old French sapient, or from its etymon Latin sapient-, a stem of sapiēns (“(adjective) discerning, judicious, wise; (noun) wise man, sage”), the present active participle of sapiō (“to have a flavour of, taste like; (figurative) to have good taste; to have discernment or sense; to be prudent, sensible, or wise”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *seh₁p-, *sep- (“to taste; to try out”). Doublet of savant. The noun is derived from the adjective, and also influenced by Latin sapiēns (noun) (see above).
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sapient
See all rhymes for sapient →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of sapient?
"sapient" (adj) means showing good judgement and wisdom; wise and knowledgeable.
What is another word for sapient?
Other words for "sapient" include perspicacious, sagacious.
What is the opposite of sapient?
The opposite of "sapient" is foolish.
What are the different meanings of sapient?
"sapient" has 3 main meanings: 1. Showing good judgement and wisdom; wise and knowledgeable; 2. Trying to look wise or knowledgeable, often without really being so; 3. (followed by 'of') Aware of or knowledgeable about something.
