Meaning & use
sacrificial
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a nounreligion
Connected with the offering of an animal or object to a god or spirit as part of a religious ceremony.
Grammar: Almost always placed before a noun: a sacrificial altar, sacrificial rites.
Patterns
- a sacrificial something
Archaeologists found a sacrificial altar in the ruins of the temple.
The priest carried a sacrificial knife in the ancient ceremony.
They studied sacrificial rituals described in early texts.
adjectivebefore a nounfigurative
Given up or put at risk on purpose so that something else can be protected or gain an advantage.
Grammar: Used before a noun for a thing or person deliberately given up: a sacrificial pawn.
Patterns
- a sacrificial something
The chess player made a sacrificial move to open up the board.
The engineers added a sacrificial layer that wears away instead of the main part.
He played the role of a sacrificial candidate in a hopeless race.
adjectivecomparableapproving
Willing to give up your own comfort or interests for the good of others.
Grammar: Can follow be or come before a noun: a sacrificial love.
Patterns
- be sacrificial in something
Her sacrificial love for her family meant she worked three jobs.
The nurses showed a sacrificial spirit during the outbreak.
It was a truly sacrificial gift of time.
Word forms
| comparative | more sacrificial |
|---|---|
| superlative | most sacrificial |
Common combinations
- sacrificial lamb
- The junior manager was treated as a sacrificial lamb after the failure.
- sacrificial altar
- The sacrificial altar stood at the center of the temple.
- sacrificial offering
- The villagers brought a sacrificial offering of grain.
- sacrificial anode
- A sacrificial anode protects the boat's hull from rust.
- sacrificial love
- Parents often show sacrificial love without being asked.
Synonyms and how they differ
- selfless
- Selfless describes a person's character and never refers to religious rites, whereas sacrificial can describe a ritual or a tactical loss.
- ritual
- Ritual means any formal ceremony, while sacrificial specifically involves an offering.
- expendable
- Expendable means can be spared or thrown away, which suggests less deliberate giving than sacrificial.
- self-denying
- Self-denying focuses on going without things yourself, but sacrificial can also involve giving a thing or person up.
Opposites
Word family
- sacrifice noun
- something given up for a greater purpose, or an offering to a god
- sacrifice verb
- to give something up for another cause
- sacrificially adverb
- in a way that gives up something for others
- self-sacrifice noun
- giving up your own interests for others
Commonly confused: sacrificial or sacrilegious?
sacrificial vs sacrilegious
Sacrilegious means disrespectful toward something holy, while sacrificial means related to offering or giving up something.
Practice
In the news report, the intern was called a 'sacrificial lamb'. What does this mean?
Choose one answer.
A sacrificial lamb is someone given up or blamed so that others are protected. The other options describe rewards or ease, which do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sacrificial”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.