altar

noun

al·​tar ˈȯl-tər 

often attributive

1

: a usually raised structure or place on which sacrifices are offered or incense is burned in worship

—often used figuratively to describe a thing given great or undue precedence or value especially at the cost of something else

sacrificed his family life on the altar of career advancement

2

a

: a tablelike construction used in the Christian church in celebrating the Eucharist

b

: a table or place which serves as a center of worship or ritual

—often used with the to refer to the act of getting married

They are destined for the altar.

She left him at the altar. [=she decided at the last minute not to go through with her planned marriage to him]

Examples of altar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Residents assemble altars at the thresholds of their homes, adorning them with prized heirloom linens, and step into stockings, underskirts, petticoats, and blouses that have been painstakingly hand-stitched and preserved across generations. —Catherine Tansey, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026

That question ultimately set him on a path that led away from Hollywood and the beauty industry and toward the altar. —Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 17 June 2026

Public health stats show maybe 5%-10% of those getting married in the United States are virgins at the altar. —Lauren Green, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026

Angelica Lourdes Mero Arcentales of Jaramijo, Ecuador, created an altar dedicated to her husband, Juan Alfredo Arcentales Anchundia, and her son, Bryan Alfredo Arcentales Mero, who were aboard the Fiorella, which went missing in January. —Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English alter, from Old English altar, from Latin altare; probably akin to Latin adolēre to burn up

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing altar

• altar boy
• altar call
• altar girl
• altar of repose
• altar rail
• altar server
• altar stone
• high altar
• lead to the altar
• leave at the altar
• on the altar of success
• worship at the altar of

Rhymes for altar

• alter
• falter
• halter
• psalter
• salter
• defaulter

Kids Definition

altar

noun

al·​tar ˈȯl-tər 

1

: a raised place on which sacrifices are offered

2

: a platform or table used as a center of worship