That which is sacrosanct is doubly sacred. Sacrosanct is derived from the Latin sacrosanctus, which is probably from the phrase sacro sanctus ("hallowed by a sacred rite"). The first element of this phrase, sacro, is the ablative case of sacrum ("a sacred rite") and means "by a sacred rite" (sacrum lives on in English anatomy as the name for our pelvic vertebrae—a shortening of os sacrum, which literally means "holy bone"). The second element, sanctus, is the past participle of the Latin sancire, which means "to make sacred." Sanctus has also given English the words saint, sanctimony, sanctify, and sanctuary.
the government's most sacrosanct institutions The tradition is regarded as sacrosanct.
Recent Examples on the WebHis mascot head went flying off in the process, leaving him scurrying to get it back and retain the anonymity that's sacrosanct for mascots. Jr Radcliffe, USA TODAY, 19 July 2022 His mascot head went flying off in the process, leaving him scurrying to get it back and retain the anonymity that's sacrosanct for mascots. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 18 July 2022 Somehow, defense spending is treated in Washington as sacrosanct, while the support of seniors, those with disabilities and their families is a threat to the national wealth. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2022 Many Americans hold their right to bear arms, enshrined in the US Constitution, as sacrosanct. Paul Leblanc, CNN, 12 Apr. 2022 For many New Jerseyans, the shore is sacrosanct — a 130-mile stretch of beaches and boardwalks made famous by Bruce Springsteen and reality TV star Snooki. Thomas Frank, Scientific American, 22 Aug. 2022 As an indispensable tool of international business and diplomacy, such documents were considered sacrosanct. Amanda Foreman, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 Soaring inflation has forced many businesses to raise prices on food and other products once considered sacrosanct. Andrew Torgan, CNN, 10 July 2022 But the government has argued Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is uniquely worrisome because, as a tiny island nation, Singapore views respecting borders as sacrosanct. Forbes Staff Reports, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Latin sacrosanctus, probably from sacro sanctus hallowed by a sacred rite