sane

/seɪn/
adjectiveIntermediate💡 mentally healthy and rational
general

Having a healthy, rational mind; not mentally ill or disturbed

The doctor reassured him that he was sane and didn't need medication.

The doctor confirmed his mental health was stable.

She seemed perfectly sane, but her actions were erratic.

Her behavior didn't match her apparent mental stability.

💡

Often contrasted with 'insane' or 'mad'

informal

Logical, reasonable, or sensible

That's a perfectly sane idea, but it's not practical.

The idea makes sense, but it's not feasible.

💡

Used to describe ideas or plans, not just people

Collocations

sane persona mentally healthy individualsane decisiona reasonable choicesane environmenta mentally healthy setting

Related Phrases

sane and soberphrase
mentally and physically healthy
sane personphrase
someone with a healthy mind

💡Pro Tip

Formal vs. Informal Use

In formal contexts, 'sane' refers strictly to mental health. In casual speech, it can describe reasonable decisions or actions.

Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

Using 'sane' too frequently can make your speech sound repetitive. Vary with synonyms like 'rational' or 'balanced'.

📖Word Origin

From Old French 'sain' (healthy), from Latin 'sanus' (healthy, well)

📝Usage Notes

Can describe people, ideas, or environments. In formal contexts, it typically refers to mental health; in informal contexts, it can describe reasonable actions.

Word Breakdown

san-
healthy
root
+
-e
adjective ending
suffix
English Dictionary