asylum

[ uh-sahy-luhm ]

noun

1. (especially formerly) an institution for the maintenance and care of the mentally ill, orphans, or other persons requiring specialized assistance.
2. an inviolable refuge, as formerly for criminals and debtors; sanctuary:

   He sought asylum in the church.

   Synonyms: retreat, shelter, haven

3. International Law.
   1. a refuge granted an alien by a sovereign state on its own territory.
   2. a temporary refuge granted political offenders, especially in a foreign embassy.
4. any secure retreat.

asylum

/ əˈsaɪləm /

noun

1. a safe or inviolable place of refuge, esp as formerly offered by the Christian Church to criminals, outlaws, etc; sanctuary (often in the phrase give asylum to )
2. shelter; refuge
3. international law refuge afforded to a person whose extradition is sought by a foreign government

   political asylum

4. obsolete.
   an institution for the shelter, treatment, or confinement of individuals, esp a mental hospital (formerly termed lunatic asylum )

Word History and Origins

Origin of asylum¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin, from Greek ásȳlon “sanctuary,” from a- a- ⁶ + sŷlon “right of seizure”

Word History and Origins

Origin of asylum¹

C15: via Latin from Greek asulon refuge, from asulos that may not be seized, from a- ¹+ sulon right of seizure

Example Sentences

The agreements require that migrants who travel from other countries through Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras to reach the US-Mexico border must first apply for asylum in one of those three countries, before applying for asylum in the US.

From Vox

Cuccinelli allegedly felt the reports were written solely to push back on the president’s asylum policy.

From Vox

Be sure to check out this deep dive into how asylum works and all the problems riddling the asylum system from the Union-Tribune.

From Voice of San Diego

It includes an explanation about how incomplete, inconsistent and erroneous asylum data is and an interactive so you can see what it’s like to go through the asylum process yourself.

From Voice of San Diego

This includes a travel ban on 31 countries, the end of asylum at the southern border, and the suspension of immigration for many family- and employment-based categories as well as four temporary-worker programs.

From FiveThirtyEight

Shakur was on the run for five years after her prison break before managing to reach Cuba, where she was granted asylum in 1984.

From The Daily Beast

In 1996, Bourjerdi was granted political asylum and went to Australia as a refugee.

From The Daily Beast

This is because the only location that debate could take place would be in an asylum.

From The Daily Beast

The report explains that there are two stages asylum-seekers must go through when apprehended at the border.

From The Daily Beast

It was unpleasant and discombobulating: a simulation of hostage-taking, mental asylum and demented dreamscape all rolled into one.

From The Daily Beast

Foreign families of neutral nationality sought more tranquil asylum far beyond the suburbs or on ships lying in the harbour.

From Project Gutenberg

Lofty trees cast their gigantic shadows along the ground, and promised a secure asylum to peaceful meditation.

From Project Gutenberg

In this city he encountered his former ranking officer, shorn of all his possessions, and just emerging from an insane asylum.

From Project Gutenberg

If you were in San Francisco you might find some of the attendants in the asylum, who could give you the information you desire.

From Project Gutenberg

He was healed at Heilsberg, then locked up in an insane asylum at Stuttgart.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• haven
• refuge
• sanctuary
• shelter