sacrosanct

adjective

sac·​ro·​sanct ˈsa-krō-ˌsaŋ(k)t How to pronounce sacrosanct (audio)
1
: most sacred or holy : inviolable
2
: treated as if holy : immune from criticism or violation
politically sacrosanct programs
sacrosanctity noun

Did you know?

Contrary to the beliefs of some, language is not sacrosanct; rather, it is subject to constant modification based on the needs, experiences, and even whims of those who use it. Take the word sacrosanct itself, which likely comes from the Latin phrase sacro sanctus meaning “made holy by a sacred rite.” There’s a definite semantic softening from that to the “too important and respected to be changed or criticized” meaning of sacrosanct. But holy moly, has sanctus led to a whole bunch of other English words with truly pious flavor, from saint and sanctimony to sanctify and sanctuary. Sacrum (“a sacred rite”), whence came the sacro in sacro sanctus, is no slouch either, living on in English anatomy as the name for our pelvic vertebrae—a shortening of os sacrum, which literally means “holy bone.”

Examples of sacrosanct in a Sentence

the government's most sacrosanct institutions The tradition is regarded as sacrosanct.
Recent Examples on the Web Even in a normal year, the commemoration for soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks is sacrosanct in Israel, a small country where many know someone killed or wounded as a result of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Eric Nagourney, New York Times, 12 May 2024 But the approach violates the traditional conservation tenet that unique biological populations are sacrosanct, to be kept separate and genetically pure. Emily Anthes Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sacrosanct 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sacrosanct.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin sacrosanctus, probably from sacro sanctus hallowed by a sacred rite

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sacrosanct was in 1601

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Dictionary Entries Near sacrosanct

Cite this Entry

“Sacrosanct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sacrosanct. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

sacrosanct

adjective
sac·​ro·​sanct ˈsak-rō-ˌsaŋ(k)t How to pronounce sacrosanct (audio)
: most sacred, holy, or respected : inviolable
sacrosanctity noun

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