sacrifice

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'sacrifice' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to giving up something of value or importance in order to achieve a goal or to provide an advantage to someone else. For example, "He made the ultimate sacrifice for his country when he gave his life in service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's pretty horrific to push a mother to a point of saying, 'Well, if I need to sacrifice myself for my children, maybe that's what I'll do,' " she said.

The Guardian

The basic problem is that we care so much about fairness that we are often willing to sacrifice economic well-being to enforce it.

The Economist

"The idea has been that you had to sacrifice return but that is not true," he said.

The Guardian

It is quite right that PEN should honour their sacrifice and condemn their murder," he said.

The Guardian

But, as Raymond Aron once put it, "it is a denial of the experience of our century to suppose that men will sacrifice their passions to their interests".

The Guardian - Opinion

The play is about coal, fury, fire, families, friends, politics, betrayal, loyalty, sacrifice, guilt, bad behaviour and the beautiful, difficult, stonkingly exasperating country we are living in today.

The Guardian

Most of the economic indices of late such as the lowering of growth rates to jut 0.7% confirm the widely held view across Dublin and the entire Republic that 2012 is going to be another year of fiscal pain and sacrifice.

The Guardian

Last century we were prepared to sacrifice many of the world's great cities and tens of millions of human lives.

The Guardian - Tech

On the anniversary of the start of one of the planet's worst wars, how can we consider that taking the train rather than the plane is a "sacrifice"?

The Guardian

If the sacrifice seems worth it, it is definitely time to take a leap into the unknown.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The most important question you should ask yourself is: "Do I really want to do this?" You need to be aware that you are going to sacrifice a great deal of your time (and your sanity at times) building a company, and nothing worth having comes easy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "sacrifice", consider the context and the specific thing being given up. Be clear about the purpose and the potential benefits or consequences of the sacrifice.

Common error

Avoid using "sacrifice" loosely to describe minor inconveniences. The term implies a significant loss or commitment, not merely a preference or convenience.

Linguistic Context

The noun "sacrifice" functions as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms that it represents the act of giving up something valued for a greater purpose, religious offering, or tactical advantage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "sacrifice" is a commonly used noun that refers to the act of giving up something valued. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and applicable across numerous contexts. Its usage spans from news and media to formal business settings. While "sacrifice" holds a neutral register, careful consideration should be given to the weight and implications of the term, ensuring its use aligns with the magnitude of the renunciation being described. Remember, alternatives like "make a sacrifice", "give up something", or "pay the price", can provide nuanced expressions depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a sacrifice

Emphasizes the act of performing the sacrifice.

pay the price

Highlights the cost or consequence associated with an action.

bear the cost

Focuses on enduring the negative consequences or burden.

give up something

A more general term for relinquishing something.

make concessions

Highlights yielding or compromising on certain demands.

suffer a loss

Focuses on the negative outcome or deprivation.

go without

Implies abstaining from something necessary or desirable.

show self-denial

Highlights the act of refusing oneself something.

offer up

Similar to offering something to a deity, but can be used more broadly.

surrender something

Focuses on yielding something, often unwillingly.

FAQs

How to use "sacrifice" in a sentence?

You can use "sacrifice" to describe giving up something valuable for a greater cause, as in "He made the ultimate "sacrifice" for his country", or to describe offering something to a deity.

What can I say instead of "sacrifice"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "make a sacrifice", "give up something", or "pay the price".

Which is correct, "sacrifice" or "sacrificing"?

"Sacrifice" is a noun, while "sacrificing" is the present participle or gerund form of the verb "sacrifice". Choose the form that fits the grammatical structure of your sentence.

What's the difference between "sacrifice" and "compromise"?

"Sacrifice" involves giving up something of value, often without expecting anything in return, while "compromise" involves mutual concessions to reach an agreement.