sack

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈsak 

1

: a usually rectangular-shaped bag (as of paper, burlap, or canvas)

2

: the amount contained in a sack

especially : a fixed amount of a commodity used as a unit of measure

3

a

: a woman's loose-fitting dress

b

: a short usually loose-fitting coat for women and children

c

: sacque sense 2

4

: dismissal

gave him the sack

5

a

: hammock, bunk

b

: bed

6

: a base in baseball

7

: an instance of sacking the quarterback in football

sackful

ˈsak-ˌfu̇l 

noun

sack

2 of 5

verb (1)

sacked; sacking; sacks

transitive verb

1

: to put in or as if in a sack

2

: to dismiss especially summarily

3

: to tackle (the quarterback) behind the line of scrimmage in football

sack

3 of 5

noun (2)

: any of several white wines imported to England from Spain and the Canary Islands during the 16th and 17th centuries

sack

4 of 5

verb (2)

sacked; sacking; sacks

transitive verb

1

: to plunder (a place, such as a town) especially after capture

2

: to strip of valuables : loot

sack

5 of 5

noun (3)

: the plundering of a captured town

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• bag
• poke [chiefly Southern & Midland]
• pouch

Verb (1)

• ax
• axe
• bounce
• can
• cashier
• discharge
• dismiss
• fire
• muster out
• pink-slip
• release
• remove
• retire
• terminate
• turn off

Verb (2)

• despoil
• loot
• maraud
• pillage
• plunder
• ransack

Choose the Right Synonym for sack

ravage, devastate, waste, sack, pillage, despoil mean to lay waste by plundering or destroying.

ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

Examples of sack in a Sentence

Noun (1)

asked the bagger to put all the loaves of bread in the same sack

I think I'm ready to hit the sack

Verb (1)

he was sacked for showing up late once too often

Verb (2)

thieves sacked the house in search of the diamond necklace

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Rapid Support Forces, an Arab militia associated with the worst atrocities, is on the edge of the city of El Fasher, with some 800,000 inhabitants, and may be about to sack it. —Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 18 May 2024

Edwards was sacked twice, and Morris was sacked once. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English sak bag, sackcloth, from Old English sacc, from Latin saccus bag & Late Latin saccus sackcloth, both from Greek sakkos bag, sackcloth, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew śaq bag, sackcloth

Noun (2)

modification of Middle French sec dry, from Latin siccus; probably akin to Old High German sīhan to filter, Sanskrit siñcati he pours

Noun (3) and Verb (2)

Middle French sac, from Old Italian sacco, literally, bag, from Latin saccus

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1532, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1549, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sack

• croker sack
• get the sack
• give (someone) the sack
• hit the sack
• sack coat
• sack out
• sack race
• sad sack
• tow sack

Kids Definition

sack

1 of 5 noun

ˈsak 

1

: a flexible container (as of paper) : bag

2

: sackful

3

: discharge from employment

—usually used with get or give

4

: bunk entry 1 sense 3, bed

sacklike

-ˌlīk

adjective

sack

2 of 5 verb

1

: to put in a sack

2

: dismiss sense 2, fire

sack

3 of 5 noun

: any of several white wines imported to England from Spain and the Canary Islands in the 16th and 17th centuries

sack

4 of 5 verb

1

: to loot after capture

2

: pillage entry 2, loot

sack

5 of 5 noun

: the looting of a captured town

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sak "bag, sackcloth," from early French sacc (same meaning), from Latin saccus "bag" and later Latin saccus "sackcloth," both from Greek sakkos "bag, sackcloth" — related to sack entry 4

Noun

from early French sec "dry to the taste, not sweet," from Latin siccus (same meaning)

Verb

from English sack "the action of looting," from early French sac (same meaning), from early Italian sacco, literally, "a bag," from Latin saccus "bag" — related to sack entry 1