cardinal sin
Britishnoun
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theol any of the seven deadly sins
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informal an unforgivable error or misjudgment
lack of impartiality is considered a cardinal sin in broadcasting circles
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.
Perhaps the cardinal sin in Garten’s Thanksgiving guidebook is waiting until the very last minute to prepare and serve your Thanksgiving meal.
From Salon ● Nov. 18, 2025
And viewpoint-based discrimination is a cardinal sin under the First Amendment.
From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2025
That has always been considered a cardinal sin in the sport.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2025
For most coaches, that is a cardinal sin.
From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2025
Unlike most American weddings I’ve attended, Iranian weddings call for formal clothing—it’s a cardinal sin to show up wearing a summer dress or something perfectly appropriate for a Sunday church service.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
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.
