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Definitions

grail

[greyl] / greɪl /
NOUN
sacred vessel
Synonyms
STRONG
chalice cup
WEAK
holy dish

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for grail?
A grail is a type of cup, chalice, goblet, or vessel. But the word is almost always used to mean the Holy Grail or a holy grail. When capitalized, Holy Grail (or just Grail) refers to the cup that according to medieval legend was used by Jesus at the Last Supper. Due to legends about the cup’s supposed powers, it became the subject of quests by knights who hoped to locate it, including the legendary King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. (A somewhat similar legend is that of El Dorado, the legendary city of gold and treasure sought by Spanish colonizers.) This sense of Holy Grail and Grail eventually came to be used (often in lowercase) in a metaphorical way to refer to any greatly desired and sought-after objective, reward, item, or ultimate ideal. For example, a particularly rare book may be called the holy grail of rare book collecting, or winning the World Cup may be called the holy grail of soccer (football). Such things are often described as highly sought-after. A person’s ultimate desire may be called their grail. A similar term is heart’s desire. Similar but less idiomatic terms are ultimate prize and ultimate goal.
Why is the Holy Grail called a grail?
The word grail comes from a Medieval Latin word gradālis, meaning “platter.” At some point, medieval legends started to use the image of a cup (as opposed to a bowl, platter, or other vessel).

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.

Its octagonal shape is a riff on AP’s Royal Oak, a holy grail watch among collectors.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

A quest for the next big thing is always the holy grail for markets.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

Rogers Jones and Co said the blend of literature, art, and royal history has made it a "holy grail" for coin collectors.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Cornell University scientists have taken a major step toward developing a safe, reversible, long-acting and 100% effective nonhormonal male contraceptive, considered the holy grail of male contraception.

From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026

I took out the purple-and-gold welcome packet and held it up like the holy grail.

From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini

Vocabulary lists containing grail

Solo

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Novel Study: The Great Gatsby, Chapters 7–9

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Ready Player One

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