sacrifice Definition
- 1an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy
- 2a 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
Idioms Using sacrifice
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.
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.
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
Example
She made a sacrifice by working two jobs to pay for her children's education.
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'
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.
