What does sacramental mean?
Sacramental is an adjective meaning connected with a sacrament, especially one of the formal Christian rites such as baptism, communion, or confirmation. It can describe the elements involved in a rite, the theology that explains a sacrament's spiritual function, or the wider system of sacramental belief. In Christian usage, the adjective may imply that a physical act or object has religious significance beyond its ordinary material character. The word is most often encountered in theology, ecclesiastical history, and discussions of worship, though its general sense can also apply to rites in other religious traditions. It is related etymologically to sacrament, but the two should not be confused: a sacrament is a religious institution or ceremony, whereas sacramental describes qualities, elements, effects, or teachings associated with it. The word has a formal and specialized character and is less common in everyday speech than ritual, religious, or ceremonial.
Relating to a sacrament or forming part of a religious sacrament.
"The sacramental elements of the service were prepared with care."
Chiefly theological or ecclesiastical; often used in Christian contexts.
Something that constitutes, belongs to, or is associated with a sacrament.
"The bread and wine were treated as the central sacramental of the service."
Less common than the adjective and chiefly used in theological writing.
Plural of the noun sense; uncommon outside theological contexts.
"The minister discussed the sacramentals of the service."
Sacramental reminds us that in many Christian traditions, an ordinary object such as bread or wine can carry extraordinary religious significance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of sacramental
The word comes from late Latin sacramentalis, meaning “of or pertaining to a sacrament.” Its root is the Latin sacramentum, a religious oath or solemn undertaking, which in Christian usage came to refer to a sacred rite or ordinance. English borrowed the adjective through ecclesiastical and theological writing, and related forms include sacrament, sacramentalism, and sacramentality.
Related word forms
How sacramental is actually used
The word is chiefly theological and ecclesiastical. It is most common in Christian contexts, although its basic sense is more general than any single denomination.
Easily confused with sacramental
A sacrament is a religious rite or ceremony, while sacramental is an adjective describing something connected with or belonging to such a rite.
Sacrificial chiefly means involving or relating to sacrifice, whereas sacramental more specifically concerns sacraments and their elements or effects.