Something that is sacred is believed to be holy and to have a special connection with God.
The owl is sacred for many Californian Indian people.
...shrines and sacred places.
Synonyms: holy, hallowed, consecrated, blessed More Synonyms of sacred
sacrednessuncountable noun [oft theNOUNof noun]
...the sacredness of the site.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Something connected with religion or used in religious ceremonies is described as sacred.
...sacred art.
...sacred songs or music.
3. adjective
You can describe something as sacred when it is regarded as too important to be changed or interfered with.
My memories are sacred.
He said the unity of the country was sacred.
Synonyms: inviolable, protected, sacrosanct, secure More Synonyms of sacred
sacrednessuncountable noun
...the sacredness of his given word.
More Synonyms of sacred
sacred in British English
(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
sacredly (ˈsacredly)
adverb
sacredness (ˈsacredness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin sacrāre to set apart as holy, from sacer holy
sacred in American English
(ˈseɪkrɪd)
adjective
1.
consecrated to or belonging to the divinity or a deity; holy
2.
of or connected with religion or religious rites
a sacred song
3.
regarded with the respect or reverence accorded holy things; venerated; hallowed
4.
set apart for, and dedicated to, some person, place, purpose, sentiment, etc.
sacred to his memory
5.
secured as by a religious feeling or sense of justice against any defamation, violation, or intrusion; inviolate
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈholy
Derived forms
sacredly (ˈsacredly)
adverb
sacredness (ˈsacredness)
noun
Word origin
ME < pp. of sacren, to consecrate < OFr sacrer < L sacrare < sacer, holy < ? IE base *sak-, to sanctify, make a compact > ON sāttr, reconciled, Hittite šakliš, law, ritual
More idioms containing
sacred
a sacred cow
Examples of 'sacred' in a sentence
sacred
There in the darkness you contact something that feels sacred.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The adoption and adaptation of religious beliefs and sacred customs are traced.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
These areas are often regarded as sacred and very special.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The best sacred music is inherently dramatic.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The sacred is obviously something that must not be touched.
Greeley, Andrew M. Sociology and Religion: A Collection of Readings (1995)
The war memorial is a sacred and special place.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Witches' magical practices are frequently geared towards the protection of sacred sites.
Crowley, Vivianne Phoenix From the Flame (1994)
Because despite our feelings about it, we actually have a sacred calling in the work we do.
Christianity Today (2000)
On the one hand the connection between the sacred and the religious is unmistakable; it is so stressed as to be obvious.
Greeley, Andrew M. Sociology and Religion: A Collection of Readings (1995)
McDonald's is to open outlets on two of the country's most sacred sites.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
sacred
British English: sacred /ˈseɪkrɪd/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is sacred is believed to be holy.
The site is sacred to tribal members.
American English: sacred
Arabic: مُقَدَّس
Brazilian Portuguese: sagrado
Chinese: 神圣的
Croatian: svet
Czech: posvátný
Danish: hellig
Dutch: heilig
European Spanish: sagrado
Finnish: pyhä
French: sacré
German: heilig
Greek: ιερός
Italian: sacro
Japanese: 神聖な
Korean: 신성한
Norwegian: hellig
Polish: święty
European Portuguese: sagrado
Romanian: sfânt
Russian: священный
Latin American Spanish: sagrado
Swedish: helig
Thai: ซึ่งเป็นที่สักการะทางศาสนา
Turkish: kutsal
Ukrainian: священний
Vietnamese: linh thiêng
All related terms of 'sacred'
sacred cow
If you describe a belief , custom, or institution as a sacred cow , you disapprove of people treating it with too much respect and being afraid to criticize or question it.
sacred site
a place of great significance
sacred turf
Turf is short, thick , even grass .
sacred baboon
→ hamadryad (sense 3 )
Sacred Heart
the heart of Jesus Christ , a symbol of His love and sacrifice
sacred music
Music is the pattern of sounds produced by people singing or playing instruments.
sacred scarab
a beetle , Scarabaeus sacer , regarded by the ancient Egyptians as divine
a sacred cow
a belief, opinion or tradition that people are not willing to criticize , question or change
Sacred College
the collective body of the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church
Sacred History
history that is retold with the aim of instilling religious faith and which may or may not be founded on fact
sacred mushroom
any of various hallucinogenic mushrooms , esp species of Psilocybe and Amanita , that have been eaten in rituals in various parts of the world
Chinese sacred lily
a Chinese amaryllidaceous plant, Narcissus tazetta orientalis, widely grown as a house plant for its fragrant yellow and white flowers
hamadryas
a baboon , Papio (or Comopithecus ) hamadryas, of Arabia and NE Africa, having long silvery hair on the head, neck , and chest : regarded as sacred by the ancient Egyptians : family Cercopithecidae
hamadryas baboon
a baboon , Papio (or Comopithecus ) hamadryas , of Arabia and NE Africa, having long silvery hair on the head, neck, and chest : regarded as sacred by the ancient Egyptians : family Cercopithecidae
Chinese translation of 'sacred'
sacred
(ˈseɪkrɪd)
adj
(= religious)[music, art]宗教的 (zōngjiào de)
⇒ sacred songs or music圣歌或圣乐 (shènggē huò shèngyuè)