What does shrine mean?
A shrine is a place dedicated to a deity, saint, or person who is being honored, and it may contain an altar, statue, relic, or other sacred object. Shrines occur in many religious traditions and may range from major temple sites to modest household arrangements. The word also has a broader figurative use for a place, person, or object that commands unusual reverence. In that sense, a site of historical importance or a cherished family practice can be described as a shrine. The expression “a shrine to someone” is especially common when discussing memorials, museums, monuments, or other honors dedicated to a person. Although “shrine” and “sanctuary” can overlap in meaning, a shrine more specifically suggests a place of focused religious or commemorative veneration.
nounA place, often within a temple or home, dedicated to a deity or honored person, where something sacred or memorable is kept. By extension, the word can refer to a place or object regarded as especially sacred or significant.
- A dedicated place of worship, often containing an altar, statue, or sacred object.
- A place where the memory of a person, belief, or important event is honored.
- By extension, a location or object regarded as sacred or exceptionally significant.
"The family placed a small shrine in the corner of the garden for their deceased grandmother."
"Pilgrims traveled to the shrine to see the relic of the saint."
"The old tree became a shrine to the villagers after the storm."
The plural is formed by adding -s.
"The pilgrimage route passes through several ancient shrines."
A shrine may be grand and architectural, but it can also be a small shelf or corner reserved for something deeply personal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shrine come from?
The word comes from Old English scrin, meaning “shrine” or “chest,” which was borrowed from Latin scrinium, a chest or bookcase. Latin scrinium developed through a broader tradition of words connected with containers, bookcases, and the storage of written or sacred materials. The related English word screen came through Old French from the same general source.
How shrine is actually used
The word is commonly used for religious spaces and, figuratively, for places or objects that inspire deep reverence. It often carries a sense of emotional or historical importance, especially in discussions of memorial sites.
Easily confused with shrine
A shrine is a place of worship or veneration, whereas a reliquary is a container, often kept in a church or shrine, for sacred relics.