Meaning & use

sacrificial

adjective·Academic

Relating to or offered as a sacrifice, or given up willingly for the sake of a greater cause.

See it in a sentence

The ancient temple contained a stone altar used for sacrificial offerings.

He played the sacrificial role on the team, giving up his starting position for a teammate.

A note on using this word

Often paired with 'lamb' in the idiom 'sacrificial lamb,' meaning someone blamed or given up to protect others.

Words with a similar meaning

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