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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.

The value of the Japanese playing cards was illustrated recently when one described as the "holy grail" sold for £30,000.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Everyone treats 2% inflation as the holy grail.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

“The hopes that I had for this holy grail are unfolding absolutely on plan,” Kaplan said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

It’s their holy grail and they’ve never been closer to getting it.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2026

In my grail diary, I had every single Rush song, album, bootleg, and music video ever made.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.