Definition of sacrosanct
1 : most sacred or holy : inviolable
2 : treated as if holy : immune from criticism or violation politically sacrosanct programs
Read the Latest from M-W
sacrosanct was our Word of the Day on 03/19/2013. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Examples of sacrosanct in a Sentence
the government's most sacrosanct institutions
The tradition is regarded as sacrosanct.
Recent Examples of sacrosanct from the Web
-
Especially here on Silk Road, anonymity is sacrosanct.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sacrosanct'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
That which is sacrosanct is doubly sacred: the two Latin components underlying the word, "sacro" and "sanctus," were combined long ago to form a phrase meaning "hallowed by a sacred rite." Sacro means "by a sacred rite" and comes from "sacrum," a Latin noun that lives on in English anatomy as the name for our pelvic vertebrae-a shortening of "os sacrum," which literally means "holy bone." Sanctus means "sacred" and gave us "saint" and obvious words like "sanctimony," "sanctify," and "sanctuary."
Origin and Etymology of sacrosanct
Latin sacrosanctus, probably from sacro sanctus hallowed by a sacred rite
First Known Use: 1601
Other Christian Religious Terms
SACROSANCT Defined for English Language Learners
sacrosanct
playDefinition of sacrosanct for English Language Learners
-
: too important and respected to be changed, criticized, etc.
Learn More about sacrosanct
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sacrosanct Spanish Central: Translation of sacrosanct Nglish: Translation of sacrosanct for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sacrosanct for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up sacrosanct? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!