What does enshrine mean?
Enshrine is a formal verb meaning to preserve something — usually a right, ideal, or cherished memory — as sacred, either literally by placing it within a shrine or figuratively by embedding it in an official or enduring form. In modern usage it appears overwhelmingly in legal and political writing: freedoms are 'enshrined in constitutions,' principles are 'enshrined in law,' and values are 'enshrined in institutions.' The verb derives from 'shrine,' which traces back through Old French to the Latin scrinium, a case for scrolls, so to enshrine something is etymologically to seal it safely away for veneration. Its connotations are solemn and protective: what is enshrined is not merely stored but honored and shielded from change. The word is especially valuable when writers want to convey that an idea has been given permanent, almost sacred status rather than casual recognition.
verbTo preserve or cherish a person, idea, or right as sacred; to enclose something in a shrine or other revered place.
- To preserve or protect a right, principle, or idea by embedding it in an official or enduring form such as law or a constitution.
- To place a sacred object, relic, or treasured thing within a shrine or other revered setting.
- To cherish or hold something as deeply valued or sacred.
"The principle of free speech is enshrined in the nation's constitution."
"The charter enshrines the right of every citizen to a fair trial."
"Her letters were enshrined in the university library as a tribute to her legacy."
Every time you say a right is 'enshrined in the constitution,' you're borrowing language from medieval relic-keeping — literally placing something precious inside a shrine.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of enshrine
The verb enshrine formed in English during the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century by adding the prefix 'en-' (meaning 'to put into') to the noun 'shrine.' Shrine itself entered Middle English from Old French 'escrin' or Medieval Latin 'scrinium,' which originally meant a chest or case for storing scrolls and later came to denote a receptacle for sacred relics. The literal sense of enclosing a holy object in a shrine appeared first, with the now-dominant figurative sense of fixing rights or ideals securely in law or custom developing later.
Related word forms
How enshrine is actually used
Enshrine is largely formal and is most often used in political, legal, and institutional contexts, typically with rights, freedoms, or principles as its object. It carries a strongly reverent, protective connotation. The figurative sense ('enshrined in law') now far outweighs the literal sense of placing objects in a shrine.
Easily confused with enshrine
Enthrone means to install someone on a throne or elevate them to power, while enshrine means to preserve something as sacred or embed it firmly in an official form.