sacrifice
SAK-rih-fys
Sacrifice (verb) means to offer something, historically an animal, person, or object, to a deity as an act of worship. Example: “In the legend, the villagers sacrificed a goat to please the harvest god.”
verb
1
To offer something, historically an animal, person, or object, to a deity as an act of worship.
"In the legend, the villagers sacrificed a goat to please the harvest god."
"The priests sacrificed grain and wine at the temple altar each spring."
"Ancient rituals often called for sacrificing livestock to the gods."
2
To give up something valuable for the sake of something considered more important.
"She sacrificed her weekends to finish the manuscript on time."
"They sacrificed comfort to save money for the trip."
"Many parents sacrifice their own free time so their children can follow their dreams."
noun
1
The act of giving up something valuable for a greater cause, or the thing given up.
"Getting into medical school required years of sacrifice."
"The soldiers' sacrifice was honored at the memorial."
"Moving abroad for her family's sake was a big sacrifice for her."
How to use sacrifice
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGiving something up — an offering to a god, or giving up something valuable for a bigger goal.
Common pairings
make a sacrifice
sacrifice for someone
ultimate sacrifice
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- sacrifices
- Past tense
- sacrificed
- Archaic forms
- sacrificest, sacrificedst, sacrificeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the legend, the villagers _____ a goat to please the harvest god.
Etymology
From Old French sacrifice, from Latin sacrificium, from sacer ("sacred") plus facere ("to make/do").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for sacrifice
See all rhymes for sacrifice →Frequently asked questions
What does “sacrifice” mean?
The word “sacrifice” means to offer something, historically an animal, person, or object, to a deity as an act of worship. In plain terms, giving something up — an offering to a god, or giving up something valuable for a bigger goal.
How do you pronounce “sacrifice”?
“Sacrifice” is pronounced SAK-rih-fys (/ˈsæk.ɹɪˌfaɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “sacrifice” in a sentence?
Here is “sacrifice” used in a sentence: “She sacrificed her weekends to finish the manuscript on time.”
What part of speech is “sacrifice”?
Depending on how it is used, “sacrifice” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “sacrifice” come from?
The word “sacrifice” comes from Latin. From Old French sacrifice, from Latin sacrificium, from sacer ("sacred") plus facere ("to make/do").
Is “sacrifice” a common word?
“Sacrifice” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “sacrifice” have?
“Sacrifice” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to offer something, historically an animal, person, or object, to a deity as an act of worship.
What is the difference between "sacrifice" and "give up"?
Both can mean surrendering something, but "sacrifice" implies giving up something valuable for the sake of a more important goal, often with a sense of nobility or loss. "Give up" is more neutral and can simply mean quitting or stopping, with no implication that the thing surrendered was precious.
What is the difference between "sacrifice" and "forfeit"?
To sacrifice something is to give it up willingly for a greater cause, whereas to forfeit is to lose something as a penalty or because of a rule or failure. Sacrifice is a chosen act, while forfeiting is usually involuntary or a consequence of something.
What prepositions are used with "sacrifice"?
You sacrifice something "for" a person, cause, or goal, and you may sacrifice one thing "to" another, especially to a deity in the religious sense. For example, "she sacrificed her weekend for the project" or "the offering was sacrificed to the gods."
When is "sacrifice" used in a religious rather than everyday sense?
In its original sense, to sacrifice is to offer something, historically an animal, person, or object, to a deity as an act of worship. Everyday modern use is usually figurative, meaning to give up something valuable, but the religious meaning remains in discussions of ritual and scripture.
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