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

Explanation

Something sacred is holy, devoted to a religious ceremony, or simply worthy of awe and respect. Jerusalem is a sacred place for many religions, just as Fenway is a sacred place for Red Sox fans. Sacred is an adjective used to describe a person or thing worthy of worship or declared holy. It usually appears in a religious context, but an object or place set aside for a particular purpose can also be sacred. Sacred spaces and items are intended to be treated with care and respect — even if it's just your shrine to Brad Pitt.

Example Sentences

The tribe is now grappling with the sudden loss of jobs, along with the dimming of hope that the culturally sacred fish will be restored to their ancestral waters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

“Dodger Stadium might be a sacred place,” says Joe Price, emeritus professor of religion at Whittier College, “depending on how much you have to pay for parking.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

These sites are not graveyards, built for sacred rest.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

Buy low, sell high seems like timeless advice, but if recent years have taught us anything, it’s that nothing is sacred.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

The performances were sacred; the spectators, too, along with the writers and the performers, were engaged in an act of worship.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Related Words

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