sacred

[ sey-krid ]

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 or profane ):

   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

sacred

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈsacredness, noun
• ˈsacredly, adverb

Other Words From

• sacred·ly adverb
• sacred·ness noun
• non·sacred adjective
• non·sacred·ly adverb
• non·sacred·ness noun
• pseudo·sacred adjective
• semi·sacred adjective
• super·sacred adjective
• un·sacred adjective
• un·sacred·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sacred¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sacred¹

C14: from Latin sacrāre to set apart as holy, from sacer holy

Synonym Study

See holy.

Example Sentences

That will go some way, he said, in “making the 62,500 square feet of Mar-a -Lago the most sacred real-estate in the political universe”.

From BBC

The number 47 is considered sacred for anyone who calls themselves a Sagehen.

From Los Angeles Times

“The privilege to vote is one of the most sacred rights we have as American citizens,” Spitzer said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

He accepted a high honor from a foreign prince and made a lifetime commitment to that prince’s “sacred militia.”

From Slate

Supreme Court justice—donned the ceremonial attire of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George upon being granted a knighthood from the monarchical religious-military order.

From Slate

Related Words

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