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
Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2025
Kodak’s leadership, however, is much less sacrosanct.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
The tussle over the leader of the Catholic church’s childhood home presents a uniquely American clash, according to legal experts and scholars, over the nation’s near sacrosanct beliefs in property rights enshrined by the Constitution.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 18 June 2025
From the character’s layered gold necklaces to her sensible-yet-stylish boots, Hargitay is Benson, and she’s earned the right to have her opinions about all things SVU treated as sacrosanct.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 25 June 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 30 Jul. 2025.
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