sacrosanct

adjective

sac·​ro·​sanct ˈsa-krō-ˌsaŋ(k)t 

1

: most sacred or holy : inviolable

2

: treated as if holy : immune from criticism or violation

politically sacrosanct programs

sacrosanctity

ˌsa-krō-ˈsaŋ(k)-tə-tē 

noun

Did you know?

Contrary to the beliefs of some, language is not sacrosanct; rather, it is subject to constant modification based on the needs, experiences, and even whims of those who use it. Take the word sacrosanct itself, which likely comes from the Latin phrase sacro sanctus meaning “made holy by a sacred rite.” There’s a definite semantic softening from that to the “too important and respected to be changed or criticized” meaning of sacrosanct. But holy moly, has sanctus led to a whole bunch of other English words with truly pious flavor, from saint and sanctimony to sanctify and sanctuary. Sacrum (“a sacred rite”), whence came the sacro in sacro sanctus, is no slouch either, living on in English anatomy as the name for our pelvic vertebrae—a shortening of os sacrum, which literally means “holy bone.”

Synonyms

• hallowed
• holy
• inviolable
• sacred
• unassailable
• untouchable

Examples of sacrosanct in a Sentence

the government's most sacrosanct institutions

The tradition is regarded as sacrosanct.

Recent Examples on the Web

Because of their medicinal properties and their seeds that can be made into bread, they are considered sacrosanct and appear often in Aboriginal art. —Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2024

Other previously sacrosanct line items, including Medicaid, housing and child care, will face slower growth. —Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 2024

Additional polling showed Trump winning large shares of Arabs, Muslims, Catholics, and other culturally conservative demographics that reject the radical social ideologies now sacrosanct in the Democratic Party. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024

Any attempt to weaken the Fed’s independence, viewed as sacrosanct by investors, would rattle global financial markets and have a destabilizing effect on the dollar, the world’s leading currency for trade invoicing and foreign exchange reserves. —Hanna Ziady, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin sacrosanctus, probably from sacro sanctus hallowed by a sacred rite

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

sacrosanct

adjective

sac·​ro·​sanct ˈsak-rō-ˌsaŋ(k)t 

: most sacred, holy, or respected : inviolable

sacrosanctity

ˌsak-rō-ˈsaŋ(k)-tət-ē 

noun