sake

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈsāk 

1

: end, purpose

for the sake of argument

2

a

: the good, advantage, or enhancement of some entity (such as an ideal)

free to pursue learning for its own sake

—M. S. Eisenhower

b

: personal or social welfare, safety, or benefit

sake

2 of 2

noun (2)

sa·​ke ˈsä-kē 

variants or saki

: a Japanese alcoholic beverage of fermented rice often served hot

Examples of sake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Trump insists that these provisions are for the sake of protecting Jewish students. —Charlotte Y. Levy, Rolling Stone, 4 May 2025

The show, replete with flower-power aesthetics and a raunchy sensibility, showed off Buzzi's knack for physical comedy above the neck, her characters often contorting their faces for the sake of caricature. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 3 May 2025

This is our chance to do it, for the sake of our democracy to work with every Democrat to save child care, and make Gov. Ron DeSantis change his mind to save child care, and for even Sen. Rick Scott to join in this effort. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 May 2025

Certainly, more critics should write like Chu, if not for the sake of society, then at least for the sake of enlivening magazine writing. —S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 2 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, dispute, guilt, purpose, from Old English sacu guilt, action at law; akin to Old High German sahha action at law, cause, Old English sēcan to seek — more at seek

Noun (2)

Japanese sake

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1682, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sake

• art for art's sake
• for goodness' sake
• for heaven's sake
• for old times' sake
• for simplicity's sake
• for the sake of appearances
• for the sake of it
• for the sake of simplicity
• just for the sake of it

Rhymes for sake

• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake
• jake

Kids Definition

sake

1 of 2 noun

ˈsāk 

1

: goal sense 2, purpose

for the sake of argument

2

: the good of something : advantage

the sake of our country

sake

2 of 2 noun

sa·​ke

variants or saki

ˈsäk-ē 

: a Japanese alcoholic drink made from rice

Etymology

Noun

Old English sacu "guilt, legal action"

Noun

Japanese