1
a
: dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity
a tree sacred to the gods
b
: devoted exclusively to one service or use (as of a person or purpose)
a fund sacred to charity
2
a
: worthy of religious veneration : holy
b
: entitled to reverence and respect
3
: of or relating to religion : not secular or profane
sacred music
4
archaic
: accursed
5
a
b
: highly valued and important
a sacred responsibility
sacredly
adverb
sacredness
noun
Examples of sacred in a Sentence
The burial site is sacred ground.
the sacred image of the Virgin Mary
the sacred pursuit of liberty
We have a sacred duty to find out the truth.
Freedom is a sacred right.
They'll make jokes about anything. Nothing is sacred to those guys.
I can't believe they would do that. Is nothing sacred?
Recent Examples on the Web
The saat phere, where the couple circled the sacred fire seven times to take their vows, was next.
—
Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025
However, some institutions are sacred and should be protected from politics.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2025
In 2016, President Obama established Bear Ears National Monument to protect a cultural landscape sacred to numerous Native peoples: the Utes, the Navajo Nation, the Hopi, and the Zuni.
—May Wang, JSTOR Daily, 6 Mar. 2025
Ramadan, the most sacred month in Islam, kicks off at sundown and concludes on Sunday, March 30 with a grand celebration, Eid al-Fitr.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sacred
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Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025
However, some institutions are sacred and should be protected from politics.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2025
In 2016, President Obama established Bear Ears National Monument to protect a cultural landscape sacred to numerous Native peoples: the Utes, the Navajo Nation, the Hopi, and the Zuni.
—May Wang, JSTOR Daily, 6 Mar. 2025
Ramadan, the most sacred month in Islam, kicks off at sundown and concludes on Sunday, March 30 with a grand celebration, Eid al-Fitr.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sacred
Cite this Entry
“Sacred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sacred. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sacred
adjective
sa·cred
ˈsā-krəd 
1
: set apart in honor of someone (as a god)
a mountain sacred to Jupiter
2
: holy sense 3
the sacred name of Jesus
3
: religious entry 1 sense 2
sacred songs
4
: deserving respect or honor
a sacred right
sacredly
adverb
sacredness
noun
Etymology
Middle English sacred "sacred," derived from early French sacrer "to make holy, dedicate to God," from Latin sacrare (same meaning), from sacr-, sacer "sacred, holy" — related to consecrate, sacrifice
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