holy water
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of holy water
before 900; Middle English haliwater, Old English hāligwæter
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.
They formed a line around the building to be doused with holy water by the parish priest.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
A priest gave nonstop blessings, flinging holy water from a pink plastic bucket.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2025
Someone else suggests summoning a priest and holy water.
From Slate • Jul. 7, 2025
The holy water is in a Styrofoam cup.
From New York Times • Nov. 9, 2023
“The churches used to bathe their special statues in holy water as a way to honor them,” she said.
From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
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.
