What does desanctifying mean?
Desanctifying is a formal verb meaning to strip something of its sacred, holy, or highly revered character. It is commonly used for actions involving religion, religious objects, rituals, cultural traditions, monuments, and artistic or museum practices. The word suggests more than simply treating something disrespectfully: it identifies a perceived change in status, from something protected as sacred to something handled as ordinary, secular, or commercial. For example, a critic might describe the display of a sacred garment in a museum as desanctifying it, while another person might regard the display as preserving and explaining it. The term is more common in cultural criticism and academic discussion than in everyday speech. It comes from the combining form de-, meaning removal or reversal, and sanctify, meaning to make holy.
verbDesanctifying means taking away or undermining the sacred, holy, or revered status of something. It can describe an action that treats a person, place, object, or tradition as no longer deserving reverence.
- To remove or undermine the sacred or revered character of something.
"The museum's decision to display the ceremonial garments without ritual treatment was criticized for desanctifying cultural objects."
"The critic accused the modern exhibition of desanctifying the shrine by turning it into a tourist attraction."
"Translating sacred texts into ordinary language can be seen as either clarifying them or desanctifying them, depending on the reader's perspective."
Desanctifying is the word for what happens when something once treated as sacred is deliberately returned to ordinary life.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of desanctifying
Desanctifying is the present participle of desanctify, formed in English by adding the de- prefix to sanctify. The word's meaning is the reverse of sanctifying: taking away sacredness rather than conferring it. The family of sanctify ultimately traces to Latin words based on sanctus, meaning holy or sacred, and sanctificare, meaning to make holy or consecrate.
Related word forms
How desanctifying is actually used
This is a relatively uncommon and intellectually formal verb. It is especially used in cultural, religious, artistic, and political criticism, where it carries a critical or provocative connotation rather than merely describing ordinary activity.
Easily confused with desanctifying
Desanctifying means removing or weakening something's sacred status, whereas desecrating more directly means treating something sacred with disrespect or violation.