sacrament
[ sak-ruh-muh nt ]
/ ˈsæk rə mənt /
noun
Ecclesiastical.
a visible sign of an inward grace, especially one of the solemn Christian rites considered to have been instituted by Jesus Christ to symbolize or confer grace: the sacraments of the Protestant churches are baptism and the Lord's Supper; the sacraments of the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches are baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, matrimony, penance, holy orders, and extreme unction.
(often initial capital letter) Also called Holy Sacrament.
the Eucharist or Lord's Supper.
the consecrated elements of the Eucharist, especially the bread.
something regarded as possessing a sacred character or mysterious significance.
a sign, token, or symbol.
an oath; solemn pledge.
Origin of sacrament
1150–1200; Middle English < Medieval Latin
sacrāmentum obligation, oath, Late Latin: mystery, rite, equivalent to Latin
sacrā(re) to devote +
-mentum
-ment
Words nearby sacrament
British Dictionary definitions for sacrament
sacrament
/ (ˈsækrəmənt) /
noun
an outward sign combined with a prescribed form of words and regarded as conferring some specific grace upon those who receive it. The Protestant sacraments are baptism and the Lord's Supper. In the Roman Catholic and Eastern Churches they are baptism, penance, confirmation, the Eucharist, holy orders, matrimony, and the anointing of the sick (formerly extreme unction)
(often capital)
the Eucharist
the consecrated elements of the Eucharist, esp the bread
something regarded as possessing a sacred or mysterious significance
a symbol; pledge
Word Origin for sacrament
C12: from Church Latin
sacrāmentum vow, from Latin
sacrāre to consecrate
Cultural definitions for sacrament
sacrament
A religious ceremony or rite. Most Christian churches reserve the term for those rites that Jesus himself instituted, but there are disagreements between them on which rites those are. The Lutheran Church, for example, maintains that baptism and Communion are the only sacraments, whereas in the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, there are five more: confirmation; confession; anointing of the sick; the ordination of clergy; and the marriage of Christians.