sacrifice

[ sak-ruh-fahys ]

noun

1. the offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage.
2. the person, animal, or thing so offered.
3. the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.
4. the thing so surrendered or devoted.
5. a loss incurred in selling something below its value.
6. Also sacrifice hit. Baseball. a batted ball, specifically a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly, that results in the batter being put out at first base while one or more base runners safely advance. : S

verb (used with object)

, sac·ri·ficed, sac·ri·fic·ing.

1. to make a sacrifice or offering of.
2. to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else.

   Synonyms: renounce, forgo, relinquish

3. to dispose of (goods, property, etc.) regardless of profit.

verb (used without object)

, sac·ri·ficed, sac·ri·fic·ing.

1. Baseball. to make a sacrifice hit:

   He sacrificed in the top of the fourth with a fly ball that brought in the go-ahead run from third base.

2. to offer or make a sacrifice.

sacrifice

/ ˈsækrɪˌfaɪs /

noun

1. a surrender of something of value as a means of gaining something more desirable or of preventing some evil
2. a ritual killing of a person or animal with the intention of propitiating or pleasing a deity
3. a symbolic offering of something to a deity
4. the person, animal, or object surrendered, destroyed, killed, or offered
5. a religious ceremony involving one or more sacrifices
6. loss entailed by giving up or selling something at less than its value
7. chess the act or an instance of sacrificing a piece

verb

1. to make a sacrifice (of); give up, surrender, or destroy (a person, thing, etc)
2. chess to permit or force one's opponent to capture (a piece) freely, as in playing a combination or gambit

   he sacrificed his queen and checkmated his opponent on the next move

Derived Forms

• ˈsacriˌficer, noun
• ˈsacriˌficeable, adjective

Other Words From

• sac·ri·fice·a·ble adjective
• sac·ri·fic·er noun
• non·sac·ri·fice noun
• non·sac·ri·fic·ing adjective
• pre·sac·ri·fice noun verb presacrificed presacrificing
• su·per·sac·ri·fice noun verb (used with object) supersacrificed supersacrificing
• un·sac·ri·fice·a·ble adjective
• un·sac·ri·ficed adjective
• un·sac·ri·fic·ing adjective
• well-sac·ri·ficed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sacrifice¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English sacrifice, sacrifis(e), from Old French sacrefise, sacrefice, from Latin sacrificium “offering made to a deity, sacrifice,” equivalent to sacri- (combining form of sacer “holy, sacred”) + -fic-, combining form of facere “to make, build, construct” + -ium noun suffix; do ¹; -ium ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of sacrifice¹

C13: via Old French from Latin sacrificium, from sacer holy + facere to make

Example Sentences

The courage of this husband and father is a constant reminder of how much some sacrifice for exercising universal rights.

From The Daily Beast

In fact, one the most sacred holiday for Muslims is the sacrifice of Abraham, known as Eid al-Adha.

From The Daily Beast

They accepted the fact that their party would have to make deals and sacrifice priorities in 2015.

From The Daily Beast

It was in Saint-Rémy where Van Gogh sends his brother word of how all his sacrifice may soon be for nothing in this life.

From The Daily Beast

They sacrifice their shelter to contain the walkers—and Judith gets her first action scene!

From The Daily Beast

Your sacrifice shall be the agony of agonies, the death of deaths, and yet you'll find yourself unable to resist.

From Project Gutenberg

I must aspire to the agitating transports of self-devotion, in scenes of sacrifice and peril!

From Project Gutenberg

I'd sacrifice myself willingly, if that would put things straight.

From Project Gutenberg

"And she would sacrifice Him and all his archangels to an epigram," thought Isabel, who was somewhat shocked.

From Project Gutenberg

She knew that the man's honor, his respect for his race and their struggle had brought him to commit the sacrifice.

From Project Gutenberg