sacred

adjective

sa·​cred ˈsā-krəd How to pronounce sacred (audio)
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
b
: highly valued and important
a sacred responsibility
sacredly adverb
sacredness noun

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 Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians come to worship at this mosque that has sat for more than a millennium on a site that both Muslims and Jews claim as sacred ground. Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Each ingredient in the Seder meal, typically prepared according to kosher standards, holds significance in sacred preparation and Hasidic symbolism. Coleby Phillips, The Arizona Republic, 9 Mar. 2024 Clashes have erupted during Ramadan in recent years between Palestinians and Israeli security forces around Jerusalem’s Old City, home to major religious sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims and the emotional epicenter of the Middle East conflict. Josh Boak, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2024 According to National Geographic, Ramadan is the most sacred month of Islamic culture and is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar. Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Mar. 2024 And in a 6-5 vote, a federal appeals court has ruled the Arizona site, sacred to the Apache tribe, can become a copper mine, as my L.A. Times colleague Kevin Rector reports. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 In fact, the largest megachurch in the U.S., Lakewood Church, holds services in a literal sports stadium, Houston’s former Compaq Center, symbolizing the blending of secular and sacred spaces. Catherine Baab-Muguira, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024 Some of these treasures, sacred in their rarity, only grace the public eye for a fleeting month every few decades. Kissa Castañeda, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 There is also a chapel dedicated to Mary deep within that is kept as a sacred space for prayer even with all the shopping bags coming in and out. Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sacred.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sacred was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sacred

Cite this Entry

“Sacred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sacred. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sacred

adjective
sa·​cred ˈsā-krəd How to pronounce sacred (audio)
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

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