sacro-

American  

1. a combining form representing sacrum in compound words.

   sacroiliac.

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Usage

What does sacro- mean? Sacro- is a combining form used like a prefix representing sacrum. The sacrum is a bone in the lower back made up of fused vertebrae and forming part of the pelvis. Sacro- is used in medical and scientific terms, especially in anatomy. Sacro- ultimately comes from the Latin phrase os sacrum, meaning “holy bone.” Os means “bone” (see our Words That Use osteo- article) and sacrum means “holy.” The Latin word sacrum is related to the English word sacred as well as sacrament and sacrosanct. Why this bone was originally thought to be “holy” is much disputed. What are variants of sacro-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, sacro- becomes sacr-, as in sacralgia.