Sacrifice Definition & Meaning

sacrifice
noun
  1. the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
  2. personnel that are sacrificed (e.g., surrendered or lost in order to gain an objective)
  3. a loss entailed by giving up or selling something at less than its value; "he had to sell his car at a considerable sacrifice"
  4. the act of killing (an animal or person) in order to propitiate a deity
  5. (baseball) an out that advances the base runners
verb
  1. endure the loss of; "He gave his life for his children"; "I gave two sons to the war"
  2. kill or destroy; "The animals were sacrificed after the experiment"; "The general had to sacrifice several soldiers to save the regiment"
  3. sell at a loss
  4. make a sacrifice of; in religious rituals

Synonyms for sacrifice

forfeit adj

surrendered as a penalty something that is lost or surrendered as a penalty

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
forfeiture noun

something that is lost or surrendered as a penalty

♫ Rhymes
give noun

the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length cause to have, in the abstract

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

"Sacrifice" in song lyrics

See how sacrifice is used in real songs:

  • "I got sucked back into the streets for sacrifice"
    1.4.0. Productions f/ Crunch Lo, Samantha — Everything U Need
  • "But you still can make some sacrifice"
    2 Live Crew — Revelation
  • "He recommended a baptism, a sacrifice"
    60 Second Assassin f/ Hell Razah, Kristina Green, Shabazz the Disciple, Son One — Cloud 9

Words that rhyme with sacrifice

See all rhymes for sacrifice →

Usage tips for "sacrifice"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "sacrifice" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for sacrifice to find words that pair well.

Use "sacrifice" in a verse

Now that you know what "sacrifice" means, try using it in your own lyrics:

Generate a verse

Explore more

♫ Rhymes with sacrifice 🔬 Words containing sacrifice

Frequently asked questions

What does sacrifice mean?
the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc. personnel that are sacrificed (e.g., surrendered or lost in order to gain an objective) a loss entailed by giving up or selling something at less than its value; "he had to sell his car at a considerable sacrifice" the act of killing (an animal or person) in order to propitiate a deity (baseball) an out that advances the base runners endure the loss of; "He gave his life for his children
What part of speech is sacrifice?
Sacrifice is a noun and a verb.
How many definitions does sacrifice have?
Sacrifice has 9 definitions across 2 parts of speech (noun, verb).

Explore More Word Tools

Look up another word