Sack Definition & Meaning

Definition

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms sacked 1 American [sakt] / sækt /

adjective

1. Informal. dismissed or discharged from a job.

   The company was forced to recognize union rights and reinstate the sacked workers.

2. Football. (of the quarterback) tackled behind the line of scrimmage before being able to throw a pass.

   We've all seen it and winced—the sacked quarterback who can't get up.

3. put into a sack or sacks.

   The creek channel is constrained by the sacked concrete used to reinforce both of its banks in the 1950s.

   I let him push the cart with my sacked groceries out to my parked car.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of sack.

sacked 2 American [sakt] / sækt /

adjective

1. destroyed or pillaged, as after capture.

   In the 13th century, Nicaea was a haven for refugees from the sacked city of Constantinople.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of sack.

Etymology

Origin of sacked1

First recorded in 1880–85; 1930–35 sacked 1 for def. 1; sack 1 ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; sack 1 ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb sense

Origin of sacked2

First recorded in 1590–1600; sack 2 ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective; sack 2 ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tudor, who has had nothing to celebrate since succeeding sacked Thomas Frank, pumped his fists in delight towards the travelling Spurs fans, who celebrated wildly as their team finally got the reward they merited.

From BBC

However, Amorim was sacked in January, after only 14 months in charge.

From BBC

The result: millions of officials have been disciplined, sacked and even jailed in the last 14 years.

From BBC

He was sacked in September 2025 after Downing Street said new information about their relationship had emerged.

From BBC

Sherwood also steered Villa away from the drop but, shorn of influential stars Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph in the summer, was sacked after six successive defeats left them bottom in October.

From BBC

Related Words

• broken
• demolished
• devastated
• lost
• ravaged
• ruined
• shattered
• smashed
• wrecked

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.