sacristy

noun

sac·​ris·​ty ˈsa-krə-stē How to pronounce sacristy (audio)
plural sacristies
: a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are kept and where the clergy vests

Examples of sacristy in a Sentence

our choir robes were stored in the sacristy
Recent Examples on the Web Flynn says Donald was found drinking altar wine in the sacristy, but Aloysius is sure Flynn gave it to him. Jesse Green, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The surveys revealed a mysterious underworld, confirming the presence of a large void under the sacristy that extended to the west and northwest. Franz Lidz Meghan Dhaliwal, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2023 Over time, the former church’s transept became a bathroom; the sacristy a kitchen. Jeastman, oregonlive, 23 June 2023 But at the 2019 Mass, Monsignor W. Curtis Mallet, the diocese’s vicar general, pulled Broussard aside in the sacristy of St. Edward, just before the ceremony began. Nathaniel Rich Stacy Kranitz, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2022 In Chicago, the show focuses on El Greco’s early Toledo years using the Assumption and the Trinity, the anchors of his first big success, and The Disrobing of Christ, from 1580, a midsize replica of his Disrobing of Christ from 1577–79 now in the sacristy of the cathedral in Toledo. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 15 Aug. 2020 Only the original kitchen, new bathrooms and former sacristy had four walls. Dallas News, 17 Feb. 2023 A decade later, their reporting was vindicated by the Argentine forensic team’s findings, which included the skeletal remains of at least a hundred and forty-three bodies in the town’s church sacristy. Peter Canby, The New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2021 Moreno helps restore the mission's sacristy, a room where the priests prepare for services and that holds items used for worship. Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 7 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sacristy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sacristie, from Medieval Latin sacristia, from sacrista sacristan, from Latin sacr-, sacer

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sacristy was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sacristy

Cite this Entry

“Sacristy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sacristy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sacristy

noun
sac·​ris·​ty ˈsak-rə-stē How to pronounce sacristy (audio)
plural sacristies
: vestry

More from Merriam-Webster on sacristy

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