sacrosanct

[sak-roh-sangkt]

adjective

1. extremely sacred or inviolable.

   a sacrosanct chamber in the temple.

2. not to be entered or trespassed upon.

   She considered her home office sacrosanct.

3. above or beyond criticism, change, or interference.

   a manuscript deemed sacrosanct.

sacrosanct

/ ˈsækrəʊˌsæŋkt /

adjective

1. very sacred or holy; inviolable

Other Word Forms

• sacrosanctity noun
• sacrosanctness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sacrosanct¹

First recorded in 1595–1605, sacrosanct is from Latin sacrō sānctus “made holy by sacred rite.” See sacred, saint

Word History and Origins

Origin of sacrosanct¹

C17: from Latin sacrōsanctus made holy by sacred rite, from sacrō by sacred rite, from sacer holy + sanctus, from sancīre to hallow

Example Sentences

Society has changed extremely over the past century, but this much is sacrosanct: Important people expect courses.

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Her assertions aside, if there had been anything left of the once-strong firewall between the department and the White House – long considered sacrosanct by presidents of both parties – it is now gone.

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Nor did those founders suggest that such sacrosanct, if now seemingly self-evident, values stopped at American shores.

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British sovereignty over Gibraltar remains "sacrosanct", the foreign secretary has said, after the UK agreed a deal with the European Union over the territory's post-Brexit future.

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Transparency in government is one of our oldest and most sacrosanct rights; it is what protects us from jackboots in the night.

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Related Words

• revered 
• venerated www.thesaurus.com