sacred

American  

[sey-krid] / ˈseɪ krɪd /

adjective

1. devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated.

2. entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy.

   Synonyms:

   venerable, divine

   Antonyms:

   blasphemous

3. pertaining to or connected with religion (secular orprofane ).

   sacred music;

   sacred books.

4. reverently dedicated to some person, purpose, or object.

   a morning hour sacred to study.

   Synonyms:

   consecrated

5. regarded with reverence.

   the sacred memory of a dead hero.

   Synonyms:

   revered

6. secured against violation, infringement, etc., as by reverence or sense of right.

   sacred oaths; sacred rights.

   Synonyms:

   sacrosanct

7. properly immune from violence, interference, etc., as a person or office.

   Synonyms:

   inviolable, inviolate

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sacred British  

/ ˈseɪkrɪd /

adjective

1. exclusively devoted to a deity or to some religious ceremony or use; holy; consecrated

2. worthy of or regarded with reverence, awe, or respect

3. protected by superstition or piety from irreligious actions

4. connected with or intended for religious use

   sacred music

5. dedicated to; in honour of

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Related Words

See holy.

Other Word Forms

• nonsacred adjective
• nonsacredly adverb
• nonsacredness noun
• pseudosacred adjective
• sacredly adverb
• sacredness noun
• semisacred adjective
• supersacred adjective
• unsacred adjective
• unsacredly adverb

Etymology

Origin of sacred

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, originally past participle of sacren “to consecrate,” from Latin sacrāre “to devote,” derivative of sacer “holy”; -ed ²

Example Sentences

These days, no holiday is considered sacred by the National Football League.

From The Wall Street Journal

Takaichi grew up in the Japanese prefecture of Nara, a mountainous region and home to an ancient capital where sacred deer roam parks and temples.

From The Wall Street Journal

Expressing his "disappointment over what happened", Reina said "images of sacred art and Christian tradition cannot be misused or exploited".

From BBC

“If our sites of worship, sacred groves, and ancestors’ graves are to be abandoned to the fishes, then I shall stay with them!”

From Literature

The city’s sacred civic tradition is simple: If you shovel out a spot, you can save it with a chair.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cherished
• divine
• hallowed
• religious
• revered
• solemn
• spiritual