Sacrilege
noun /ˈsæk.rɪ.lɪdʒ/ — Violation of something sacred; treating the holy with disrespect
Definition
The violation or misuse of something regarded as sacred — particularly a religious object, site, or person. Used more broadly to describe any treatment of something greatly valued as if it were worthless or degraded.
Beyond the definition
Sacrilege is taboo at its most formal and elevated — the word for the act that violates the boundary between sacred and profane. In secular usage, it names the treatment of any deeply held value as if it had no value.
Origin & history
Latin: sacrilegium (temple robbery). From sacer (sacred) + legere (to take, to gather). Originally: stealing from a sacred space. Expanded to any desecration of the holy.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Using a first edition as a coaster was, to her, sacrilege.
Sacrilege names the violation of any deeply held reverence — secular or religious.
The word still carries religious weight even in entirely secular contexts.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Sacrilege” when the meaning fits your context: The violation or misuse of something regarded as sacred — particularly a religious object, site, or person. Used more broadly to describe any treatment of something greatly valued as if it were worthless or degraded.
Synonyms
desecration, profanation, blasphemy
Antonyms
reverence, consecration, respect
Related words
Sacrilege vs blasphemy
Sacrilege is the misuse of sacred objects or places. Blasphemy specifically refers to speaking insultingly about a deity or religion.
Compare this word
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Dignified Return to Earth
An old wooden chair is being slowly reclaimed by forest vines and mushrooms.
To treat a valuable object as worthless is a form of sacrilege. Here, the chair is not being violated but rather returned to the earth, illustrating that the 'violation' is a matter of perspective regarding the object's inherent value.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Sacrilege" mean?
Sacrilege is noun meaning: Violation of something sacred; treating the holy with disrespect. The violation or misuse of something regarded as sacred — particularly a religious object, site, or person. Used more broadly to describe any treatment of something greatly valued as if it were worthless or degraded.
Where does the word "Sacrilege" come from?
Latin: sacrilegium (temple robbery). From sacer (sacred) + legere (to take, to gather). Originally: stealing from a sacred space. Expanded to any desecration of the holy.