sacred

adjective

sa·​cred ˈsā-krəd 

1

a

: dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity

a tree sacred to the gods

b

: devoted exclusively to one service or use (as of a person or purpose)

a fund sacred to charity

2

a

: worthy of religious veneration : holy

b

: entitled to reverence and respect

3

: of or relating to religion : not secular or profane

sacred music

4

archaic : accursed

5

a

: unassailable, inviolable

b

: highly valued and important

a sacred responsibility

sacredly adverb

sacredness noun

Synonyms

• holy

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 on the Web

There was something so sacred and special about this thing. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025

During my First Term, few were more effective or tenacious than Peter in enforcing my two sacred rules, Buy American, Hire American. —Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025

Collecting is protecting, a sacred duty, being a keeper of a flame, an acolyte. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

The moment when a massage begins, for both practitioner and receiver, has a sacred quality. —Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sacred

• sacred baboon
• sacred cow
• sacred fig
• sacred mushroom

Kids Definition

sacred

adjective

sa·​cred ˈsā-krəd 

1

: set apart in honor of someone (as a god)

a mountain sacred to Jupiter

2

: holy sense 3

the sacred name of Jesus

3

: religious entry 1 sense 2

sacred songs

4

: deserving respect or honor

a sacred right

sacredly adverb

sacredness noun

Etymology

Middle English sacred "sacred," derived from early French sacrer "to make holy, dedicate to God," from Latin sacrare (same meaning), from sacr-, sacer "sacred, holy" — related to consecrate, sacrifice