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

• hallowed
• holy
• inviolable
• sacrosanct
• unassailable
• untouchable

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

While Dante was ablaze with light, the Temple Bar, true to its name, was dark and muted, verging on the sacred. —Gary Shteyngart, The New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2024

Those living along the corridor see it as a vital fight to preserve what’s sacred to them — land, water and their way of life. —Brie Jackson, NBC News, 24 Apr. 2024

Don’t miss experiencing Taking of the Waters, a sacred bath ritual included with a day pass or with a spa treatment reservation. —Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024

Varanasi, Hinduism’s most sacred city, lies near the state’s eastern border, and Modi chose to represent it in Parliament — a crafty choice for a man wishing to be hailed as a defender of his faith. —Samanth Subramanian Vikas Adam Tanya Pérez Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024

This is balderdash, as any fair listener to his symphonies and sacred music can attest. —Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2024

Atharva Veda, a sacred Hindu scripture, classifies cannabis as one of the five most sacred plants on Earth. —Arbab Ali & Nadeem Sarwar, Saveur, 18 Apr. 2024

In order to overcome a curse, the Goatherd must embark on a series of quests: lifting a massive sacred object off the ground, seeking an ogre’s keep, and, eventually, performing a ridiculously complicated dance. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2024

Players have long viewed Augusta National as sacred ground for golf and a sanctuary from modern distractions that are part of the landscape of just about any other sporting event. —Alan Blinder Doug Mills, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024

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