Advertisement - Continue reading below

Definition of "grail" []

  • A cup or plate that, according to medieval legend, was used by Jesus at the Last Supper and that later became the object of many chivalrous quests. Also called Holy Grail. (noun)
  • The object of a prolonged endeavor. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "grail" in a sentence
  • "Once it turns out that the "grail" is actually Mary"
  • "The term "grail" comes from the Latin gradale, which meant a dish."
  • "Our holy grail is the standardized test, even though these tests have been shown to be laughable in tracking student knowledge, biased towards those with more wealth and cultural capital, and destructive in narrowing and dumbing down the curriculum as schools focus on test prep to avoid closure."