holiness

[hoh-lee-nis]

noun

1. the quality or state of being holy; sanctity.

   Synonyms: saintliness, godliness, blessedness

2. (initial capital letter),  a title of the pope, formerly used also of other high ecclesiastics (usually preceded by His orYour ).

Holiness

¹

/ ˈhəʊlɪnɪs /

noun

1. a title once given to all bishops, but now reserved for the pope

holiness

²

/ ˈhəʊlɪnɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being holy

Other Word Forms

• self-holiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of holiness¹

before 900; Middle English holynesse, Old English hālignes. See holy, -ness

Example Sentences

The Archdiocese of New York recently released an update on reforms to its abuse response protocols, with Dolan arguing that “conversion is possible, healing is possible, holiness is possible even after great sin.”

From Salon

“There’s this idea of this false sense of holiness and that this guy doesn’t belong here,” says McBride.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s an elegiac relationship, compounded by the recent passing of my grandmother, who embodied holiness and unadulterated love in every sense.

From Salon

For those familiar with authoritarian history, it is no wonder that the talking point of Trump's holiness has become prominent as more of his malfeasance and illegal behavior has been made public.

From Salon

“And here we are profaning the holiness of human life, committing atrocities against ourselves.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• humility 
• purity 
• righteousness 
• sanctity 

When To Use

What does holiness mean?

Holiness is a state of religious purity or devotion, as in Our faith says that holiness comes from serving other people and praying often.Holiness is also used as a title for some religions’ leaders. If you ever meet the Catholic Church’s Pope or Tibetan Buddhism’s Dalia Lama, you can refer to them as your Holiness.Example: The holiness of this relic is a hotly debated subject in religious circles.