sacrosanct
adjective
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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.”
Examples of sacrosanct in a Sentence
Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2025
But its decision to about-face on what executives long cast as a sacrosanct passenger perk brings the largest U.S. domestic carrier in line with its rivals, which together generated more than $5 billion from bag fees last year, according to federal data.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025
The Mineral Rights Implications Are Huge While most public-land recreationists rue the thought of sacrosanct landscapes being sold, the real asset in play isn’t the land.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 26 Feb. 2025
The bureau opposed the bill, defending the Williamson Act as a successful, sacrosanct statute.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sacrosanct
Cite this Entry
“Sacrosanct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sacrosanct. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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