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sacrifice definition

sac·ri·fice (sak′rə fīs′)

noun

    1. the act of offering the life of a person or animal, or some object, in propitiation of or homage to a deity
    2. something so offered
    1. the act of giving up, destroying, permitting injury to, or forgoing something valued for the sake of something having a more pressing claim
    2. a thing so given up, etc.
    1. a selling or giving up of something at less than its supposed value
    2. the loss incurred
  4. ☆ Baseball a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly

Etymology: OFr < L sacrificium < sacer, sacred + facere, to make, do

transitive verb sacrificed -·ficed′, sacrificing -·fic′·ing

  1. to offer as a sacrifice to God or a god
  2. to give up, destroy, permit injury to, or forgo (something valued) for the sake of something having a more pressing claim
  3. to sell at less than the supposed value
  4. ☆ Baseball to advance (a base runner) by means of a sacrifice

intransitive verb

  1. to offer or make a sacrifice
  2. ☆ Baseball to execute a sacrifice

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

sacrifice Synonyms

sacrifice

n.

  1. An offering to a deity

    offering, tribute, oblation, expiation, atonement, reparation, penance, propitiation, libation, sacrificial lamb, burnt offering.

  2. A loss

    discount, deduction, reduction; see loss 1.

  3. In baseball, a play that advances a runner at the expense of the batter

    fielder's choice, sacrifice fly, bunt, noble deed*.


sacrifice

v.

  1. To offer to a deity

    consecrate, immolate, dedicate, give up, devote, offer up, hallow, worship, make an offering of; see also bless 3.

  2. To give up as a means to an end

    forfeit, forgo, relinquish, yield, suffer the loss of, permit injury to, renounce, spare, give up, let go, resign oneself to, endure the loss of, sacrifice oneself, abandon oneself to, surrender, part with, waive, go astray from.

  3. To sell at a loss

    cut, reduce, sell out, sell at a bargain, have a fire sale, mark down, take shrinkage, take a beating, incur a loss, sell for a song*; see also decrease 2, lose 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

sacrifice Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • atone: The death of Christ on the cross was the once for all atoning sacrifice.

Adjective modifier

  • supreme: He said consideration would be given to laying a wreath each year on 23 March to mark Joseph's supreme sacrifice.

Noun used with modifier

  • salary: How does a pensions only salary sacrifice scheme compare to pensions offered via flexible benefits?

Preposition: of

  • atonement: God presented [ Christ ] as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.

Preposition: for

  • sake: He exemplifies the spirit of sacrifice for the sake of Christ that has no public kudos.
sacrifice usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

sacrifice quotes

Hath the L as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the L? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquityand idolatry.

-Bible (Old Testament)

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them,They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.But go ye and learnwhat that meaneth,Iwill have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

-Bible (NewTestament)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

-Bible (NewTestament)

sacrifice quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"sacrifice." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/sacrifice>

APA Style

sacrifice. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/sacrifice

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