sacrifice

[ˈsækrɪfaɪs]

sacrifice Definition

• 1. an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy
• 2. a ritual offering made to a deity, especially as part of a religious ceremony

Using sacrifice: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "sacrifice" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  She made many sacrifices to provide for her family.

• Example

  The team made a sacrifice play to score the winning run.

• Example

  The ancient Greeks made animal sacrifices to their gods.

• Example

  He sacrificed his own happiness for the sake of his friend's success.

sacrifice Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for sacrifice

• offering
• ritual
• oblation
• penance
• immolation

Antonyms for sacrifice

• gain
• profit
• benefit

Idioms Using sacrifice

• sacrifice oneself on the altar of something

  to give up everything for the sake of something else, often used in a negative sense to criticize excessive devotion to a cause or ideology

  Example

  Many people feel that they have sacrificed themselves on the altar of their careers, neglecting their families and personal lives.

• make a sacrifice at the altar of something

  to give up something valuable or important for the sake of something else, often used in a positive sense to describe dedication to a cause or ideal

  Example

  She made a sacrifice at the altar of social justice by dedicating her life to helping the less fortunate.

• sacrifice fly

  a baseball play in which a batter hits a fly ball that allows a runner on third base to score a run, but results in an out for the batter

  Example

  The game was tied in the bottom of the ninth inning when the batter hit a sacrifice fly to win the game.

Phrases with sacrifice

• make a sacrifice

  to give up something valuable or important for the sake of something else

  Example

  She made a sacrifice by working two jobs to pay for her children's education.

• human sacrifice

  the act of killing one or more human beings as part of a religious ritual

  Example

  Human sacrifice was practiced in some ancient cultures, but it is now universally condemned.

• blood sacrifice

  a ritual offering of blood, often performed in ancient cultures as a way of appeasing or honoring gods or spirits

  Example

  The Aztecs believed that blood sacrifice was necessary to keep the sun moving across the sky.

Origins of sacrifice

from Old French 'sacrifice', from Latin 'sacrificium', from 'sacer' meaning 'holy' and 'facere' meaning 'to make'

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Summary: sacrifice in Brief

The term 'sacrifice' [ˈsækrɪfaɪs] refers to giving up something valuable or important for the sake of something else. It can be a personal decision or a ritual offering to a deity. Examples include 'She made many sacrifices to provide for her family.' and 'The ancient Greeks made animal sacrifices to their gods.' Idioms like 'sacrifice oneself on the altar of something' and 'make a sacrifice at the altar of something' describe excessive or positive devotion to a cause or ideal, while 'sacrifice fly' is a baseball term for a specific play.