noun

immolation

im-uh-LAY-shun/ˌɪməˈleɪʃn/

Killing or destroying by fire as an act of sacrifice or protest.

The animal offering undergoes immolation on the ceremonial altar.

A distant ceremonial stone altar burns with a small animal offering mostly obscured by flame and smoke, mournful witnesses stand back.

Etymology

imLatinon, upon

+molLatinsacrificial meal

+ationLatinact or process

The roots describe putting sacrificial meal upon a victim, a preparatory act that came to stand for sacrificial killing itself. This sacrifice word later acquired a strong association with death by fire.

More examples

The ritual involves the immolation of offerings in a sacred fire.
Witnesses describe the monk's immolation as an act of protest.
The historian compares ritual immolations in several ancient societies.

Forms

immolation · immolations

immolate verb — To burn as a sacrifice or protest.

Similar words

sacrifice: An offering that need not involve death or fire.
burning: Describes fire's action without necessarily implying sacrifice or protest.