Holy Grail

noun

1

: grail

2

often holy grail : an object or goal that is sought after for its great significance

Examples of Holy Grail in a Sentence

Finding a cure for cancer is the holy grail of medical researchers.

Recent Examples on the Web

His third nom came in 2005 for playing King Arthur in the hugely popular goofball musical Monty Python’s Spamalot, based the 1975 movie Monty Python’s Holy Grail. — Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

The song, from Jay-Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail, which some octogenarian readers may remember arriving three days early through an app for the first million Samsung Galaxy owners, had already begun to creep into the younger generation’s consciousness. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026

In 2026, Valencia awaits both pilgrims and sports fans, with the Third Holy Grail Jubilee Year running through October and SailGP bringing high-speed F50 racing to the city’s marina in September. — Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026

Schizophrenia has always been psychiatry’s white whale, its cure an elusive Holy Grail. — Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Holy Grail

• abigail
• cottontail
• countervail
• fingernail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale

Kids Definition

Holy Grail

noun

-ˈgrā(ə)l

: the cup or platter which according to legend was used by Christ and was sought after by knights during the Middle Ages