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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Tesla boss retaliated by calling for Disney to sack its CEO and is funding a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against Disney filed by actress Gina Carano. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024

Other than forcing a turnover, the most devastating play a Niners defender could make would be to sack Mahomes. —Jason Abbruzzese, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024

But Carlson, who was sacked from Fox last year, seemed ready to surrender. —Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2024

With rumors swirling that Zelensky could soon sack Valeriy Zaluzhny, the popular commander-in-chief of the army, Budanov is seen as a possible replacement. —Joseph Ataman, CNN, 31 Jan. 2024

On their first business day in charge, the new team sacked more than 60 RNC staffers, telling ... —Nr Editors, National Review, 15 Mar. 2024

Instead, the ball was controversially ruled incomplete, and two plays later Cam Newton was sacked in the end zone and fumbled. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2024

The former Broncos edge rusher just sacked Patrick Mahomes to force the punt. —Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2024

Lamar Jackson was constantly under fire from KC's blitz while trying to pass – sacked four times, stripped once and serving up an interception. —Nate Davis, The Courier-Journal, 29 Jan. 2024

Noun

Charles Harris: The former Dolphins first round bust has 10 sacks in the past three seasons with Detroit. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024

Those three edge rushers combined for 26 sacks last season while making things considerably easier for every player around them. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024

Look for something with an ultra-compact stuff sack. —Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2024

The closest thing Bosa has had to a consistent outside threat on the other side was Dee Ford in 2019, who had 6 1/2 sacks in 11 games in 2019. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024

Halo Wearable Blanket After ditching full- and half-swaddling, this became my favorite wearable, blanket-style sleep sack. —Emily Hochberg, Parents, 11 Mar. 2024

Van Ginkel is coming off a solid 2023 season with the Dolphins with 6.0 sacks, 8 tackles for loss, 19 QB hits, 8 passes defensed, 1 interception (returned for a touchdown), 1 fumble recovery and 69 tackles. —Steve Silverman, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

The defender, listed by the program as 6-1 and 233 pounds, took advantage of his short stint, producing 83 total tackles (10 for loss), six sacks and two forced fumbles. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024

As olives rained down, his grandchildren picked them up and began filling the sacks. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 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

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