shrine

1 of 2

noun

ˈshrīn 

 especially Southern  ˈsrīn

1

a

: a case, box, or receptacle

especially : one in which sacred relics (such as the bones of a saint) are deposited

b

: a place in which devotion is paid to a saint or deity : sanctuary

c

: a niche containing a religious image

2

: a receptacle (such as a tomb) for the dead

3

: a place or object hallowed by its associations

shrine

2 of 2

verb

shrined; shrining

transitive verb

: enshrine

Synonyms

Noun

• sanctuary
• sanctum

Examples of shrine in a Sentence

Noun

the shrine of Saint Mary

They erected a shrine to the saint.

tourists visiting the shrines of American independence

The writer's house has become a shrine to his fans.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For all the shortcomings in this nationwide effort, most Germans today set an example of remorse that shames Turkish nationalist leaders equivocating about the Armenian genocide, or rightist Japanese politicians visiting the Yasukuni war shrine in Tokyo that honors Class A war criminals. —Gary J. Bass, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025

Villagers plundered the shrine and sold the bronzes to antiquities dealers like Robert Hecht, who faced allegations of smuggling before his death in 2012. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Feb. 2025

Verb

The whole idea of a tourist attraction built as a guileless ode to love, and shrine to a Slovak poem, may strike you, at first blush, as defying both rhyme and reason. —Sam Roberts, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2024

Pro tip: Take a look at the Luke Kuechly shrine in the back. —Katie Toussaint, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English scrīn, from Latin scrinium case, chest

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shrine

• brine
• cline
• dine
• fein
• fine
• gwine
• hine
• jain
• klein
• kline
• line
• mine

Kids Definition

shrine

noun

ˈshrīn

1

: a case or box for sacred relics (as the bones of a saint)

2

: a place in which devotion is paid to a saint or deity

a Buddhist shrine

3

: a place that is considered sacred

visited the shrines of American independence