sanctity

[sangk-ti-tee]

noun

plural

sanctities 

1. holiness, saintliness, or godliness.

2. sacred or hallowed character.

   the inviolable sanctity of the temple.

3. a sacred thing.

sanctity

/ ˈsæŋktɪtɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being sanctified; holiness

2. anything regarded as sanctified or holy

3. the condition of being inviolable; sacredness

   the sanctity of marriage

Other Word Forms

• nonsanctity noun
• unsanctity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sanctity¹

1350–1400; < Latin sānctitās holiness, equivalent to sānct- ( Sanctus ) + -itās -ity; replacing Middle English sauntite < Anglo-French < Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of sanctity¹

C14: from Old French saincteté, from Latin sanctitās, from sanctus holy

Idioms and Phrases

see odor of sanctity.

Example Sentences

Purity is usually associated with ideas about cleanliness, sanctity or avoiding contamination – so finding that it is associated with negative views about wealth gives new meaning to the phrase “filthy rich.”

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Addressing parliament, Mitsotakis emphasised the need to "preserve the sanctity" of a place "of memory for the dead... who allowed us to be free and to offer this freedom to our children".

Read more on Barron's

The move has been welcomed by the Catholic faithful, who believe that the previous brand had lost its sanctity due to its widespread use outside the church.

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"Even in deeply polarised times, we must never lose sight of our humanity and our respect for the sanctity of all human life."

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"Historically the Turkish people have been acutely sensitive about the sanctity of the ballot and attempts to curtail it would provoke serious consequences," he says.

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Related Words

• divinity 
• faith 
• inviolability 
• purity 
• righteousness 
• solemnity 
• spirituality