Definition of sacred
1a : dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity a tree sacred to the godsb : devoted exclusively to one service or use (as of a person or purpose) a fund sacred to charity
2a : worthy of religious veneration : holyb : entitled to reverence and respect
3 : of or relating to religion : not secular or profane sacred music
4 archaic : accursed
5a : unassailable, inviolableb : highly valued and important a sacred responsibility
sacredly
adverbsacredness
nounFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of sacred in a Sentence
The burial site is sacred ground.
the sacred image of the Virgin Mary
the sacred pursuit of liberty
We have a sacred duty to find out the truth.
Freedom is a sacred right.
They'll make jokes about anything. Nothing is sacred to those guys.
I can't believe they would do that. Is nothing sacred?
Recent Examples of sacred from the Web
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Just as meals offer an opportunity to soothe, the room of a dying person is sacred ground.
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The theme has changed every week since, waxing sacred or tongue-in-cheek or both.
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Susan Miller Degnan sdegnan@miamiherald.com That’s why each Miami baseball player has the sacred word written below his name on his locker.
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The site’s Neolithic occupants came and went, but the area continued to be used as sacred ground.
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Hindus, who form 80 percent of India’s 1.3 billion people, consider cows to be sacred, and for many eating beef is taboo.
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The wall—and the two accompanying statues—completed a site that many, including nearly all of the early critics, came to consider special, even sacred.
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Sacred Heart scored in the fourth and fifth as both coaches began going through their relievers.
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Many Japanese believe Shasta is the sister peak of Mount Fuji, their sacred mountain.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sacred'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of sacred
Middle English, from past participle of sacren to consecrate, from Anglo-French sacrer, from Latin sacrare, from sacr-, sacer sacred; akin to Latin sancire to make sacred, Hittite šaklāi- rite
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Christian Religious Terms
SACRED Defined for English Language Learners
sacred
playDefinition of sacred for English Language Learners
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: worthy of religious worship : very holy
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: relating to religion
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: highly valued and important : deserving great respect
SACRED Defined for Kids
Word Root of sacred
The Latin word sacer, meaning “holy,” and the related word sānctus, also meaning “holy,” give us the roots sacr and sanct. Words from the Latin sacer or sānctus have something to do with holiness. A sanctuary is a holy place. Anything sacred is holy. To sacrifice is to dedicate as a holy offering to a god.
Learn More about sacred
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sacred Spanish Central: Translation of sacred Nglish: Translation of sacred for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sacred for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sacred
Seen and Heard
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