shrine
Americannoun
-
a building or other shelter, often of a stately or sumptuous character, enclosing the remains or relics of a saint or other holy person and forming an object of religious veneration and pilgrimage.
-
any place or object hallowed by its history or associations.
a historic shrine.
-
any structure or place consecrated or devoted to some saint, holy person, or deity, as an altar, chapel, church, or temple.
-
a receptacle for sacred relics; a reliquary.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a place of worship hallowed by association with a sacred person or object
-
a container for sacred relics
-
the tomb of a saint or other holy person
-
a place or site venerated for its association with a famous person or event
-
RC Church a building, alcove, or shelf arranged as a setting for a statue, picture, or other representation of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or a saint
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of shrine
before 1000; Middle English schrine, Old English scrīn (cognate with German Schrein, Dutch schrijn ) < Latin scrīnium case for books and papers
Explanation
Set up some candles and a photograph of someone important in your life in the corner of a room where you spend time reflecting silently, and you've created a shrine. Shrine comes from the Latin scrinium meaning "case or box for keeping papers." Think of a shrine as a niche or case in which the spirit of someone special is kept. It could be a statue or some other form of commemoration to either a person or a relic. A shrine can be as small as a tiny mantel in your house or it can be as massive as a building commemorating, or shrining, a sacred person.
Vocabulary lists containing shrine
World Religions
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Maus I: My Father Bleeds History
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Ancient Rome - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Before moving to the Hollywood neighbourhood of Los Angeles, the Oscars for years were held in a central location at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Shrine Auditorium.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
Inside the Shrine Auditorium, though, there were moments viewers didn’t see.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026
For centuries, the priest of the nearby Yatsurugi Shrine has led an annual watch for the crossing, contributing to a unique record of a changing climate.
From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026
On Dec. 30, protesters gathered near the bazaar and the golden domes of the Imam Reza Shrine, an important pilgrimage site for Shiite Muslims worldwide.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026
This very primitive version is from a pre-Yomesh written text found in the lsenpeth Cave Shrine of the Gobrin Hinterlands.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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.
