English Reference
verb · adjective

sacked

v. · adj.
US /ˈsækt/ UK /sˈækt/ sacked

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate British EnglishInformal

    v.to be told by your employer that you no longer have a job, usually because you did something wrong.

    v.to be dismissed from employment, typically due to poor performance or misconduct. This usage is transitive and common in British English.

    Simple

    He was sacked for arriving late to work three days in a row.

    In context

    The manager was summarily sacked after the internal audit revealed a significant discrepancy in the quarterly accounts.

    Usage

    Often used in the passive voice: 'to be sacked'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Literary

    v.to attack a town or city during a war and steal everything valuable.

    v.to plunder or pillage a captured town or city, typically involving widespread theft and destruction by a victorious army.

    Simple

    The ancient city was sacked by the invading army and left in ruins.

    In context

    Historical records suggest the capital was sacked with such ferocity that it took nearly a century for the population to return to its former levels.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate British EnglishInformal

    adj.describing someone who has lost their job.

    adj.functioning as a predicative adjective to describe the state of being unemployed following a dismissal.

    Simple

    Now that he is sacked, he has to find a new way to pay his rent.

    In context

    The sacked workers gathered outside the factory gates to protest the sudden closure of the plant without severance pay.

The 39-year-old, who was sacked by Monaco in June, will become the country’s first non-Scottish manager since Berti Vogts, who was in charge from 2002-04.

The Guardian· 15 Aug 2026

We have previously looked at managers who were sacked during the summer break , though not specifically at those who lost their job because of pre-season results.

The Guardian· 12 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated