sacrificial

adjective

sac·​ri·​fi·​cial ˌsa-krə-ˈfi-shəl 

1

: of, relating to, of the nature of, or involving sacrifice

2

: of or relating to a metal that serves as an anode which is electrolytically consumed instead of another metal that is present

sacrificially

ˌsa-krə-ˈfi-shə-lē 

adverb

Examples of sacrificial in a Sentence

their sacrificial acts of self-denial

Recent Examples on the Web

Musaf is a detailed account of the Yom Kippur temple service, when a special sacrificial service was performed by the High Priest of Israel on Yom Kippur in the temple in Jerusalem. —Krys'tal Griffin, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025

The Labyrinth becomes a stand-in for the kind of technological know-how that can make sacrificial populations disappear without Americans having to see it directly. —Seamus Sullivan september 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025

Something is not happy about Cam’s decision, though, because the young player’s agent (Tim Heidecker) gets exploded to pieces on a sacrificial pentagram. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025

With love, with longing, with righteous rage or shameful guilt, on a sacrificial pyre or in the eternal flames of hell: There are so many ways to burn. —Jessica Kiang, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sacrificial

• sacrificial lamb

Rhymes for sacrificial

• artificial
• beneficial
• cicatricial
• interstitial
• nonjudicial
• nonofficial
• prejudicial
• superficial
• unofficial
• extrajudicial
• semiofficial
• initial

Kids Definition

sacrificial

adjective

sac·​ri·​fi·​cial ˌsak-rə-ˈfish-əl 

: of or relating to sacrifice

sacrificially

-ə-lē 

adverb