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Meaning & use

sacrament

noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˈsækrəmənt/
US/ˈsækrəmənt/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablereligion

    A formal religious ceremony believed to be a means of grace, especially in the Christian church.

    Grammar: Countable: a sacrament, the sacraments.

    Patterns

    • receive a sacrament
    • administer a sacrament
    • the sacrament of baptism

    Baptism is considered a sacrament in many Christian traditions.

    The priest administered the sacrament to the congregation.

    They believe that Christ instituted the sacraments.

  2. noununcountablereligion

    In some Christian churches, the bread and wine taken during Holy Communion.

    Grammar: Uncountable when referring to the elements: receive the sacrament.

    Patterns

    • receive the sacrament
    • the sacrament of the altar

    The sick were given the sacrament by the visiting minister.

    She knelt to receive the sacrament.

Word forms

pluralsacraments

Common combinations

administer a sacrament
Only ordained ministers may administer certain sacraments.
receive a sacrament
Children receive their first sacrament at a young age.
the sacrament of marriage
In Catholic teaching, marriage is a sacrament.
the seven sacraments
The Roman Catholic Church recognizes seven sacraments.

Synonyms and how they differ

rite
A general word for a religious ceremony; a sacrament is specifically a rite believed to convey divine grace.
ordinance
Used by some Protestant groups for a ceremony commanded by Christ, but it does not imply the same conferring of grace as 'sacrament'.

Word family

sacramental adjective
Relating to a sacrament or the sacraments.
sacramentally adverb
In a way that relates to a sacrament.

Commonly confused: sacrament or sacrament?

sacrament vs sacrament

Not to be confused with 'sacrament' and 'sacrifice'; a sacrament is a religious ceremony, while a sacrifice is an offering.

Practice

In the Catholic Church, marriage is considered a ___.

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