high altar

noun

: the principal altar in a church

Examples of high altar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The limestone Gothic structure was built in phases, with the high altar, choir and western façade completed first. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2024

While digging in the quire, a space at the cathedral’s center that houses its choir stalls, high altar and bishop’s throne, researchers unearthed the original foundations of a 12th-century altar, a medieval crypt and the empty tombs of two bishops. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2023

Experts made the finds while excavating the cathedral’s quire, a space at the church’s center that houses its choir stalls, high altar and bishop’s throne. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Aug. 2023

The foundations of Exeter’s high altar—the most important and usually largest altar in a church—were laid during the original construction 900 years ago. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Aug. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above