Scripture
noun
Often Scriptures. the sacred writings of the Old or New Testaments or both together.
Scripture
American
[skrip-cher]
/ ˈskrɪp tʃər /
noun
-
Also called Holy Scripture, Holy Scriptures. Often Scriptures. the sacred writings of the Old or New Testaments or both together.
-
(often lowercase) any writing or book, especially when of a sacred or religious nature.
-
(sometimes lowercase) a particular passage from the Bible; text.
Scripture
1
British
/ ˈskrɪptʃə /
noun
-
Also called: Holy Scripture, Holy Writ, the Scriptures. Christianity the Old and New Testaments
-
any book or body of writings, esp when regarded as sacred by a particular religious group
scripture
2
British
/ ˈskrɪptʃə /
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Scripture
1250–1300; Middle English < Latin scrīptūra writing. See script, -ure
Explanation
Scripture is a sacred religious text. It usually refers to the Christian Bible, but it can refer to other religions' texts as well. The noun scripture is most often used for specifically Christian writing, and it's often capitalized. However, it can refer to any religion's sacred writing: "Hindu scripture is written on the walls of the temple." In the 1300s, scripture sometimes meant simply "writing," though it more often referred to sacred words, especially in the Christian Bible. Its root word is the Latin script, or "writing."
Vocabulary lists containing scripture
The Write Stuff: Scrib, Script
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"The Hill We Climb," by Amanda Gorman
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Inherit the Wind
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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.
See Examples For:
What Scripture doesn’t command, ad nauseam or otherwise, is the coercion of other people to do those things or to pay for them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026
They might hold a Bible study in a karaoke bar, taking questions over a meal, consulting Scripture on cellphones.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2025
If you read “The Scripture of the Golden Eternity,” you really see how much he was impacted and inspired by Buddhism and how much he actually understood the teachings.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2025
Let alone that it was brutal, systematic, and defended by law and Scripture alike.
From Slate ● Apr. 23, 2025
“Arise! Go forth! Walk!” shouted Titid on the radio, quoting Scripture again.
From "Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti" by Frances Temple
Talarico's conversational style and command of scripture have generated viral social media clips, while a two-hour appearance on comedian Joe Rogan's hugely popular podcast in 2025 introduced him to an audience beyond traditional Democratic circles.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
He quickly attracted a cult-like following on the internet, and his investment firm’s routine regulatory filings are studied like scripture.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
The lesson of the scripture is that everyone can be redeemed, can change, no matter what mistakes they have made.
From Slate ● Jul. 10, 2026
A recent attempt by the government in India's northern state of Punjab to introduce a tougher law punishing sacrilege against the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, has triggered a controversy.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
“I love this scripture that’s in Psalms,” he told her.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
