holiness
noun
the quality or state of being holy; sanctity.
Showing results for holiness.
Search instead for
jowlinesses.
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:
Christian figures who embody ideals of goodness and holiness – saints, Mary and even Jesus – are the ones who rule the runway.
From Salon ● May 17, 2026
But she still knew all the words, albeit this time to a traditional hymn about the holiness of the Lord.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 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 believed in the holiness of the human spirit.’
From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers
The lack of representation contradicted what he knew to be true: Holiness also resides in Black and brown people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
His Holiness also neglects St. Augustine’s definition in “The City of God” that peace is “the tranquility of order,” not just the absence of war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 15, 2026
The Dalai Lama won a Grammy for audio, narration and storytelling for his audiobook "Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama".
From Barron's ● Feb. 2, 2026
Morgan said it was with "great sadness that I have learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis".
From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2025
“No man doubts your daughter’s innocence, my lord,” Ser Kevan lied, “but His High Holiness insists upon a trial.”
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
