What does sacral mean?
Sacral is most commonly an adjective meaning of or relating to the sacrum, the triangular bone at the base of the spine. In clinical and anatomical contexts, it describes structures, nerves, or regions associated with this part of the skeleton. Sacral also has a specialized use in religious studies and anthropology, where it refers to rites, practices, or spaces understood as belonging to the sacred realm. This usage conveys a ritual or symbolic distinction rather than simply describing something as holy. The adjective is formal and technical in both senses, so it is less common in everyday speech than sacred. In medical writing, however, it is the standard and precise term for what belongs to the sacrum, especially the lower back and pelvis. Its history also makes it memorable: the word ultimately points to Latin sacrum, “sacred thing,” a root shared with sacred, sacrament, and sacrifice.
adjectiveOf or relating to the sacrum, the triangular bone at the base of the spine. In religious or anthropological contexts, it can also mean relating to sacred rites or practices.
- Of or relating to the sacrum or the part of the body containing it.
- Of or relating to sacred rites, practices, or traditions.
"The scan revealed a fracture in one of the sacral vertebrae."
"Sacral nerves carry sensory information from the lower back and pelvis."
"The anthropologist studied how the community's sacral calendar organized its transition from ordinary time into ritual time."
One word links the body's sacred bone to the sacred traditions of religion: both meanings lead back to Latin sacrum, meaning “sacred thing.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sacral come from?
English borrowed sacral from Latin sacralis, an adjective derived from sacrum. In anatomy, sacrum comes from the Latin phrase os sacrum, “sacred bone,” referring to the bone at the base of the spine. The same Latin root also connects the word with sacred, sacrament, sacrilege, and sacrifice.
Related word forms
How sacral is actually used
The anatomical sense is standard in medicine and anatomy. The religious or anthropological sense is formal and specialized; sacred is normally preferred when describing something as holy or divine.
Easily confused with sacral
Sacral usually means relating to the sacrum or to sacred rites, whereas sacred means holy, divine, or deserving religious reverence.