# sacrament

/ˈsækɹəmənt/ (US) · /sˈækɹəmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sacrament
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. religious rite

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a formal religious ceremony in the Christian church, such as baptism or marriage, that is seen as a sign of God's blessing.

For teachers: a religious ceremony or ritual regarded as imparting divine grace, such as baptism, confirmation, or marriage. Countable in this sense.

- In many churches, baptism is considered the first sacrament a person receives.
- The theologian argued that the efficacy of the sacrament depended not on the minister's merit but on the divine promise attached to the rite.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'administer', 'receive', or 'perform'.

### 2. the Eucharist

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

the holy bread and wine used in a Christian church service to remember the death of Jesus.

For teachers: the consecrated elements of the Eucharist, specifically the bread and wine. Often used with 'the' as a singular proper noun.

- The priest prepared the sacrament on the altar before the congregation arrived.
- The rubrics of the service require that any remaining portion of the sacrament be consumed or reverently disposed of after the liturgy.

### 3. something sacred

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

something that people treat with great respect and consider to be holy or very special.

For teachers: anything regarded as possessing a sacred character or mysterious significance. Used figuratively to elevate the status of a secular object or concept.

- For the old man, working in his garden was a daily sacrament of peace.
- The poet treated the act of writing as a private sacrament, a necessary ritual to make sense of the chaotic world around him.

### 4. ancient oath

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a very serious promise or oath, like the one soldiers in ancient Rome took to be loyal.

For teachers: a solemn oath of allegiance, originally that taken by ancient Roman soldiers to their commander. Historical register.

- The soldiers swore a sacrament to defend the empire until death.
- Scholars note that the early Christian use of the term was influenced by the Roman military sacrament, implying a total commitment to a new leader.

### 5. to bind by oath

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to make someone promise something very seriously using a religious or formal oath.

For teachers: to bind an individual by a solemn or sacred oath. Transitive use; now largely obsolete in modern prose.

- The king sought to sacrament his knights to the new code of honour.
- In the ancient text, the initiates were sacramentally bound to secrecy regarding the hidden rites of the temple.

## Examples

- The priest performed the sacrament of baptism.
- The couple considered their marriage a holy sacrament that should be respected by the whole community.
- While different denominations disagree on the exact number of valid sacraments, most recognize that these rituals serve as essential milestones in the spiritual life of a believer.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.