sac
noun
a baglike structure in an animal, plant, or fungus, as one containing fluid.
sac
1 American
[sak]
/ sæk /
noun
Sac
2
American
[sak, sawk]
/ sæk, sɔk /
noun
plural
Sacs,plural
Sac
SAC
3
American
[sak]
/ sæk /
Or
S.A.C.
noun
sac
1
British
/ sæk /
noun
SAC
2
British
abbreviation
sac
Scientific
/ săk /
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sac
First recorded in 1735–45; from Latin saccus “bag, sackcloth”; see sack 1
Explanation
A sac is a hollow space or container. While any pocket or pouch can be called a sac, the word usually refers to a small enclosed space that occurs in nature, like a spider's egg sac or a squid's ink sac. You might put your groceries in a sack, but without the “k” a sac is smaller and attached to a plant or animal. Human fetuses grow inside an amniotic sac, and seed plants produce pollen inside sacs as well. Since the mid-1700s, sac has been used to mean "biological pocket," from the Latin root word saccus, or "bag." If you’re not sure which sac to use, it’s almost always the other one unless you’re in biology class.
Vocabulary lists containing sac
Commonly Confused Words, List 4
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Unit 2: Evolution
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The Benefits of Being an Octopus
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In nearby Sac City, Crystal Hanrahan was watching the case unfold when she got an idea.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025
"We've got to flush this one down the toilet and get ready for Sac," said Kerr, whose side face the Sacramento Kings in their next match.
From BBC • Jan. 21, 2025
“Trump stood up for the people,” said Brett Potthoff, 30, an engineer from Sac City, Iowa, who considered caucusing for Mr. DeSantis but ultimately said he would support Mr. Trump.
From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2024
It was facing northbound, Rowley said, even though it should have been headed southbound to get to Sac City.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 5, 2023
I see their faces -Greasy Sac and Madge and even the Peacekeepers who buy my meat cheering for us.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
