Meaning

Originally, the killing (and often burning) of a human being or an animal as an offering to a deity; later, also the offering of an object to a deity..

Definitions by Sense

1. Originally, the killing (and often burning) of a human being or an animal as an offering to a deity; later, also the offering of an object to a deity.
2. A human being or an animal, or a physical object or immaterial thing (see etymology 1 sense 1.3), offered to a deity.
3. The offering of devotion, penitence, prayer, thanksgiving, etc., to a deity.
4. Jesus Christ's voluntary offering of himself to God the Father to be crucified as atonement for the sins of humankind.
5. The rite of Holy Communion or the Mass, regarded as (Protestantism) an offering of thanksgiving to God for Christ's crucifixion, or (Roman Catholicism) a perpetual re-presentation of Christ's sacrificial offering.
6. The destruction or surrender of anything for the sake of something else regarded as more urgent or valuable; also, the thing destroyed or surrendered for this purpose.
7. Ellipsis of sacrifice bunt or sacrifice hit (“a play in which the batter intentionally hits the ball softly with a hands-spread batting stance at the cost of an out to advance one or more runners”).
8. In full sacrifice bid: a bid of a contract which is unlikely to be fulfilled, that a player makes in the hope that they will incur fewer penalty points than the points likely to be gained by opponents in making their contract.

Example Sentences

They firſt vvaſh the dead body, paint him, clothe him, and ſo conueigh him to his Dormitorie, vvhich is ſpacious and neat, vvherein they bury his Armolets, Bracelets, Shackles and ſuch Treaſure, concluding their Ceremonies vvith Mimmicke geſtures and eiaculations: vvhich, vvith the Sacrifice of a Goat, vpon his Graue, puts a period to their Burials.

[T]he Beaſts they offered in ſacrifice, and the Gifts they offered, and their actions in VVorſhipping, vvere full of ſubmiſſion, and commemorative of benefits received, vvas according to reaſon, as proceeding from an intention to honour him [God].

[…] Moloch, horrid King beſmear'd with blood / Of human ſacrifice, and parents tears, / Though for the noyſe of Drums and Timbrels loud / Their childrens cries unheard, that paſt through fire / To his grim Idol.

This day the Philiſtines a popular Feaſt / Here celebrate in Gaza; and proclaim / Great Pomp, and Sacrifice, and Praiſes loud / To Dagon, as their God vvho hath deliver'd / Thee Samſon bound and blind into thir hands, […]

O th'inchaunting vvords of that baſe ſlaue, / Made him to thinke Epeus pine-tree Horſe [i.e., the Trojan Horse] / A ſacrifize t'appeaſe Mineruas vvrath: […]

Make of your Prayers one ſvveet Sacrifice, / And lift my Soule to Heauen.

Does the mute Sacrifice upbraid the Prieſt? / He knovvs him not his Executioner.

Let vs therfore by him [Jesus] offre allwayes vnto God the ſacrifice of prayſe: that is to ſaye, the frute of thoſe lippes which confeſſe his name.

Word Forms

• sacrifices
• sacrificing
• sacrificed
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• sacrifice
• sacrificest
• sacrificedst
• sacrificeth
• -

Synonyms for sacrifice

Related Words

When Should You Use Sacrifice?

Use sacrifice when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions