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

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

But for a great many others, these medical and clinical interventions are just new forms of the same psychedelic rituals, in which LSD has always served as a sacrament. —John Semley, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2025

In addition to conducting weekly services and offering sacraments, priests are called on to preside at weddings and funerals and to accompany families at hospitals. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 21 May 2025

The 10-year-old siblings received the sacrament at the Monaco Cathedral. —Jillian Frankel, People.com, 12 May 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