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

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.