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

It comes after a BBC investigation found some people had travelled long distances by taxi, with one asylum seeker saying they went on a 250-mile journey to a GP, costing the Home Office £600.

Read more on BBC

The Home Office has delayed plans to house asylum seekers at two military sites in East Sussex and the Scottish Highlands.

Read more on BBC

Lakanwal settled in Bellingham, Wash., where he applied for asylum, which was granted in April, according to officials.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the U.S. government was bound by a Biden-era court settlement to expedite asylum claims of Afghans paroled into the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The 29-year-old suspect was granted asylum -- not permanent residency -- in April this year, according to AfghanEvac, a group that helped resettle Afghans in the United States after the 2021 Taliban takeover.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• haven 
• refuge 
• sanctuary 
• shelter