Word
SAP
Phoneticssap
US/ˈsæp/
UK/sˈæp/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who is too emotional or weak, especially in a way that seems silly. You might use this to describe someone who is easily fooled because they are too kind or romantic.
n. a person regarded as foolishly sentimental or weak. Informal in register and often used to disparage someone's lack of emotional resilience or critical judgment.
Examples
“He is such a sap for romantic movies.”
“The con artist targeted him because he looked like a total sap who would believe any sad story.”
“While his colleagues remained cynical about the merger, he was enough of a sap to believe the CEO's promises of job security for everyone.”
Examples
simple
“He is such a sap for romantic movies.”
contextual
“The con artist targeted him because he looked like a total sap who would believe any sad story.”
complex
“While his colleagues remained cynical about the merger, he was enough of a sap to believe the CEO's promises of job security for everyone.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'a sap for [something]' to indicate a specific emotional weakness.
Real-World Examples
“It blocks the flow of sap in trees, causing them to wilt and die within months.” “The starting point is the same as for an ordinary balloon: natural latex derived from the sap of the rubber tree, native to the Amazon.” Etymology
Abbreviation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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