English Reference

Word

desecration

Phoneticsdes·e·cra·tion

US/dɛsəˈkɹeɪʃən/

UK/dˌɛsɪkɹˈeɪʃən/

Definition

n. the act of damaging or destroying something holy or sacred. It can also mean treating a place or object with great disrespect.

n. the act of damaging, destroying, or treating something sacred or holy with contempt. Often used in legal or religious contexts to describe the violation of a grave or a place of worship.

Examples

“The desecration of the ancient temple was a crime.”

“The community was shocked by the desecration of the local cemetery, where several headstones were deliberately broken.”

“While the physical damage was eventually repaired, the desecration of the historical site left a lasting scar on the cultural identity of the region.”

Examples

simple

“The desecration of the ancient temple was a crime.”

contextual

“The community was shocked by the desecration of the local cemetery, where several headstones were deliberately broken.”

complex

“While the physical damage was eventually repaired, the desecration of the historical site left a lasting scar on the cultural identity of the region.”

Real-World Examples

“It said there were six reported assaults across both years, eight incidents of damage and desecration to Jewish property - five of which were in student accommodation - and ten threats.”
BBC News · 30 Sept 2026

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/desecration

English Reference