reliquary

noun

rel·​i·​quary ˈre-lə-ˌkwer-ē How to pronounce reliquary (audio)
plural reliquaries
Synonyms of reliquarynext
: a container or shrine in which sacred relics are kept

Examples of reliquary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Still missing however, is a reliquary brooch set with 94 diamonds. — Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025 The gunpowder crate, which had been discovered 10 years earlier, was the most evocative object in this underground reliquary. — Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026 Next door is the Al-Jazzar Mosque, where there's a reliquary containing a hair believed to be from the Prophet Muhammad. — Michele Kelemen, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026 Several more of the empress's brooches were also on display in the gallery, including some known as reliquary brooches, which are constructed to hold a sacred relic, a symbol of Eugénie’s Catholic faith. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reliquary

Word History

Etymology

French reliquaire, from Medieval Latin reliquiarium, from reliquia relic — more at relic

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reliquary was in 1550

Rhymes for reliquary

See All Rhymes for reliquary

Browse Nearby Words

relinquishment
reliquary
relique
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reliquary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reliquary. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

reliquary

noun
rel·​i·​quary ˈrel-ə-ˌkwer-ē How to pronounce reliquary (audio)
plural reliquaries
: a small box or shrine in which sacred relics are kept

More from Merriam-Webster on reliquary

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reliquary

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reliquary

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