sacrifice

1 of 2

noun

sac·​ri·​fice ˈsa-krə-ˌfīs 

 also  -fəs,

 or  -ˌfīz

1

a

: the act of giving up or losing something of value for the sake of something else

The labor union crafted an historic contract that made up for sacrifices hourly workers made to help the automakers in years past.

—Phoebe Wall Howard

When we make little sacrifices we like to have them appreciated, at least …

—Louisa May Alcott

… knowledge … from books purchased at great personal sacrifice.

—David Lelyveld

soldiers who made the final/supreme/ultimate sacrifice [=died while serving their country]

b

: something of value given up or lost for the sake of something else

the sacrifices made by parents

2

a

: an act of offering to a deity something precious

especially : the killing of a victim on an altar

a place where human/animal sacrifices were made in ancient rituals

b

: something offered in sacrifice

a goat offered as a sacrifice

3

: loss

goods sold at a sacrifice

4

: sacrifice bunt

sacrifice

2 of 2

verb

sacrificed; sacrificing

transitive verb

1

vt/vi : to give up or lose (something of value) especially for an ideal, belief, or end

honoring those who sacrificed all [=died] for our country

… she did not sacrifice long-term objectives to short-term gain.

—Economist

… aims to meet customer demand for new products without sacrificing quality.

—Olive Keogh

In any case, the House will lose three key Democrats who sacrificed their seats to run for Senate.

—Kyler Alvord

… the doting father who, recognizing a knack and a passion in his son, sacrificed for the sake of the boy's development.

—Alexander Wolff

2

vt/vi : to offer (a sacrificial victim) as a sacrifice to a deity

a command that they sacrifice a lamb

3

vt : to sell (something) at a loss

Dear book! I will sell my Shakespeare, and even sacrifice my old quarto Hogarth, before I will part with you.

—Herman Melville

4

vt/vi baseball : to advance (a base runner) by means of a sacrifice bunt : to make a sacrifice hit

5

vt : to kill (an animal) as part of a scientific experiment

sacrificer noun

Synonyms of sacrifice

Noun

• offering
• victim

Verb

• offer

Examples of sacrifice in a Sentence

Noun

The war required everyone to make sacrifices.

No sacrifice is too great when it comes to her children.

He made many personal sacrifices to provide help to the city's homeless people.

The war required much sacrifice from everyone.

a place where priests performed human sacrifices in ancient rituals

The villagers hoped the gods would accept their sacrifice.

The goat was offered as a sacrifice.

The runner went to second base on a sacrifice.

Verb

She's had to sacrifice a lot for her family.

He sacrificed his personal life in order to get ahead in his career.

I want to follow a diet that is healthful without sacrificing taste.

She was able to ask for their help without sacrificing her dignity.

She was willing to suffer, sacrifice, and work for success.

a place where people were sacrificed in ancient rituals

He sacrificed in his first at bat.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After her best friend and heir-to-the-throne, Kyrian, replaces her as a sacrifice to the Devil, plain, plus-size and autistic Alesta is willing to go to Hell and back. —Brittany Johnson, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025

With Istredd’s sacrifice on the other side of the portal complete, Yennefer’s army teleports behind Vilgefortz, and with the advantage lost, the mage retreats to fight another day. —Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025

Verb

By effectively sacrificing the midweek Carabao Cup tie with Crystal Palace by resting so many senior players in that 3-0 defeat, the pressure was cranked up ahead of Villa’s visit. —James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025

Dogs and guinea pigs are sacrificed, presumably to test exposure to potential gas attacks. —Will Tizard, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin sacrificium, from sacr-, sacer + facere to make — more at do

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sacrifice

• give/sacrifice one's life
• great personal sacrifice
• made the final/supreme/ultimate sacrifice
• make the final/supreme/ultimate sacrifice
• sacrifice bunt
• sacrifice fly
• sacrifice hit
• sacrifice one's life
• self-sacrifice

Rhymes for sacrifice

• imprecise
• advice
• allspice
• concise
• device
• entice
• excise
• fordyce
• precise
• suffice
• dice
• feis

Kids Definition

sacrifice

1 of 2 noun

sac·​ri·​fice ˈsak-rə-ˌfīs 

-fəs

1

: an act of offering something precious to God or a god

especially : the killing of a victim on an altar

2

: something offered in sacrifice

3

: a giving up of something especially for the sake of someone else

also : something so given up

4

: loss of profit

sell goods at a sacrifice

sacrifice

2 of 2 verb

sac·​ri·​fice

ˈsak-rə-ˌfīs,

-ˌfīz

sacrificed; sacrificing

1

: to offer or perform as a sacrifice

2

: to give up for the sake of something else

3

: to sell at a loss

4

: to make a sacrifice hit

sacrificer noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sacrifice "the act of offering something to God or a god," from early French sacrifice (same meaning), from Latin sacrificium "sacrifice," from sacr-, sacer "sacred" and -ficium, from facere "to do, make" — related to sacred