asylum

American  

[uh-sahy-luhm] / əˈsaɪ ləm /

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.

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asylum British  

/ 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 )

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Etymology

Origin of asylum

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

Example Sentences

Farhad N came alone, without his family and, although his asylum request was rejected, he was not deported and had been given temporary residency in Munich.

From BBC

Zapata Rivera, who has a pending asylum claim, clung to his family.

From Salon

“You are the waif’s last relation in the world. Without you, the child is destined to a most piteous life in the orphan asylum.”

From Literature

Martinelli sought asylum in Colombia last year to avoid arrest in a separate money laundering case over which he was sentenced to nearly 11 years imprisonment.

From Barron's

That means anyone who applied for asylum, a visa, a green card or any other benefit remains in limbo indefinitely.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• haven
• refuge
• sanctuary
• shelter