WordLens

sacrifice

1 of 2verb
/ˈsækrəfaɪs/
Forms:sacrifices,sacrificing,sacrificed,sacrificed
1

to give up something of value for the sake of something else

  • Parents often sacrifice personal time to ensure the well-being and happiness of their children.
  • Soldiers may sacrifice their lives to defend their country and its principles.
  • Many entrepreneurs sacrifice immediate financial comfort for the long-term success of their ventures.
  • Individuals may sacrifice certain luxuries to save money for important life goals.
  • Environmental activists often sacrifice personal convenience to reduce their ecological footprint.
Synonyms:
2

to destroy or kill, especially for a specific purpose such as a test or experiment

transitive
  • The researchers sacrificed the lab rats to analyze the effects of the new medication.
  • The scientist carefully sacrificed the specimen to preserve it for study.
  • Ethical concerns arose when the team sacrificed animals for unnecessary experiments.
  • The study required sacrificing small mammals to test tissue regeneration methods.
  • To gain accurate results, the team sacrificed one sample group during the testing phase.
3

to kill an animal or person as a religious act

C1transitive
  • The ancient Mayans would sacrifice animals to their gods during important rituals.
  • In some cultures, priests would sacrifice goats to honor their deities.
  • The ritual required the high priest to sacrifice a lamb on the altar.
  • He felt conflicted about sacrificing a part of his harvest as an offering to the spirits.
  • The tribe believed that sacrificing a warrior would ensure victory in battle.
4

to sell something for less than its original cost or value

transitive
  • They had to sacrifice the old inventory to make room for new items.
  • The store sacrificed several products to clear out excess stock.
  • He decided to sacrifice his artwork to attract buyers.
  • The company sacrificed some assets to improve cash flow.
  • She sacrificed her designer clothes for a fraction of their value.