holiness
noun
the quality or state of being holy; sanctity.
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holiness
American
[hoh-lee-nis]
/ ˈhoʊ li nɪs /
noun
-
the quality or state of being holy; sanctity.
- Synonyms:
- saintliness, godliness, blessedness
-
(initial capital letter) a title of the pope, formerly used also of other high ecclesiastics (usually preceded by His orYour ).
Holiness
1
British
/ ˈhəʊlɪnɪs /
noun
holiness
2
British
/ ˈhəʊlɪnɪs /
noun
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of holiness
before 900; Middle English holynesse, Old English hālignes. See holy, -ness
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It’s been feeling practically biblical around here lately — and it’s not the feeling of holiness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
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 ● Sep. 21, 2025
Nobody calls holiness home—although, ironically, doing so is an all-too-human habit.
From Slate ● May 15, 2024
Saturday’s rally took place during Shabbat, the weekly Jewish day of holiness and rest.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 14, 2023
He’s always running off to Mass with his mother, who is known for her holiness.
From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt
Appeared in the May 12, 2026, print edition as 'A New Look for Holiness'.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026
"Meditation: Reflections Of His Holiness The Dalai Lama" features artists such as Rufus Wainwright, who accepted the award on behalf of the spiritual leader, and Maggie Rogers.
From Barron's ● Feb. 2, 2026
But Shevchuk told the pope that “the faithful of our church are sensitive to every word of Your Holiness as the universal voice of truth and justice.”
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 6, 2023
"His Holiness will find out how security forces are treated in Portugal," said CFS's commission secretary Cesar Nogueira.
From Reuters ● Jul. 6, 2023
On Sunday, I took Richard to church, the Holiness Church of God, with me, not to convince him of nothing but so that he could see it my way too.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
