sacrifice meaning and definition

SACRIFICE noun

Definition of sacrifice (noun)

1. the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
   • synonyms: forfeit, forfeiture
2. personnel that are sacrificed (e.g., surrendered or lost in order to gain an objective)
3. a loss entailed by giving up or selling something at less than its value
   • "he had to sell his car at a considerable sacrifice"
4. the act of killing (an animal or person) in order to propitiate a deity
   • synonyms: ritual killing
5. (baseball) an out that advances the base runners

SACRIFICE verb

Definition of sacrifice (verb)

1. endure the loss of
   • "He gave his life for his children"; "I gave two sons to the war"
   • synonyms: give
2. kill or destroy
   • "The animals were sacrificed after the experiment"; "The general had to sacrifice several soldiers to save the regiment"
3. sell at a loss
4. make a sacrifice of; in religious rituals