sacrament

noun

sac·​ra·​ment ˈsa-krə-mənt 

1

a

: a Christian rite (such as baptism or the Eucharist) that is believed to have been ordained by Christ and that is held to be a means of divine grace or to be a sign or symbol of a spiritual reality

b

: a religious rite or observance comparable to a Christian sacrament

2

capitalized

a

: communion sense 2a

b

: blessed sacrament

3

: something likened to a religious sacrament

saw voting as a sacrament of democracy

Examples of sacrament in a Sentence

They stood in line to receive the Sacrament.

Recent Examples on the Web

For Akasha, the substance was both his holy sacrament and his flagship product. —Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025

In general, the reference site states, Roman Catholics veer from other branches of Christianity in their beliefs about the sacraments and the importance of the papacy, in addition to a focus on the saints and the Virgin Mary. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 1 May 2025

Diocese of Gary Bishop Robert McClory issued restrictions, including removing priestly faculties, not celebrating mass or other sacraments publicly, and not wearing clerical attire or using his clerical title. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025

This protection -- known as the seal of confession -- is among the oldest and most solemn obligations in the Catholic Church, grounded in the Church’s teaching that, in the sacrament, penitents are confidentially confessing to and receiving forgiveness from God. —Hiram Sasser, National Review, 15 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sacrement, sacrament, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin sacramentum, from Latin, oath of allegiance, obligation, from sacrare to consecrate

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

sacrament

noun

sac·​ra·​ment ˈsak-rə-mənt 

1

: a religious act that is a sign or symbol of a spiritual existence

2

capitalized : blessed sacrament

sacramental

ˌsak-rə-ˈment-ᵊl

adjective

sacramentally

-ᵊl-ē

adverb