sanctuary
Americannoun
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a sacred or holy place.
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Judaism.
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the Biblical tabernacle or the Temple in Jerusalem.
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the holy of holies of these places of worship.
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an especially holy place in a temple or church.
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the part of a church around the altar; the chancel.
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a church or other sacred place where fugitives were formerly entitled to immunity from arrest.
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immunity afforded by refuge in such a place.
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any place of refuge; asylum.
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a tract of land where birds and wildlife, especially those hunted for sport, can breed and take refuge in safety from hunters.
- Synonyms:
- preserve
noun
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a holy place
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a consecrated building or shrine
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Old Testament
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the Israelite temple at Jerusalem, esp the holy of holies
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the tabernacle in which the Ark was enshrined during the wanderings of the Israelites
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the chancel, or that part of a sacred building surrounding the main altar
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a sacred building where fugitives were formerly entitled to immunity from arrest or execution
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the immunity so afforded
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a place of refuge; asylum
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a place, protected by law, where animals, esp birds, can live and breed without interference
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sanctuary
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Late Latin sānctuārium, from sānctu- (combining form of sanctus; see Sanctus) + -ārium -ary
Explanation
The word sanctuary has religious roots, and can refer to a temple or church, but its use has broadened to include anywhere people go for peaceful tranquility or introspection. Your pickup truck might be your sanctuary if that's where you can clear your head. Historically, a sanctuary is the holiest of holy places — a temple or church. Now, it's a word for anywhere a person feels especially safe and serene. People might call their homes their sanctuary, or a beautiful spot in a quiet woods can be described as a sanctuary. It can also be a way to refer to shelter or asylum from political danger, such as: "The forbidding jungle can offer sanctuary to the guerrilla rebels."
Vocabulary lists containing sanctuary
I Am Malala
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Chains
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The Secret Life of Bees
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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:
Its key highlights were a meditation sanctuary, vegetarian restaurant and "psychic" readings, organised by the British Astrological Society and Psychic Society.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
From rented space in a former nightclub in Beijing that Jin converted into a sanctuary, the church grew rapidly alongside growing interest in Christianity in China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
He revealed to the podcast hosts that he has relished in the opportunity to build a true sanctuary for his family, steadily transforming the rural, rustic property into something he can be proud of.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
Dorsainvil appeared to be in shock while sitting solemnly beside Pastor Carl Ruby, a leader of local advocacy coalition Springfield G92, in the sanctuary of Central Christian Church.
From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026
My mom and my brother are near the sanctuary door, paying more attention to us than to Pastor Eldridge.
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
Dictionary delights, sanctuaries around the globe, the many voices of Harry Potter and more.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 20, 2025
"Overnight they became our offices, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, adding that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness feels rather tone-deaf".
From BBC ● Dec. 19, 2025
Altogether, 15 sanctuaries of worship were destroyed, including five in Altadena.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2025
“Schools must always be sanctuaries, free from environmental harm. Environmental justice is educational justice, and Los Angeles Unified remains unwavering in our commitment to a safer, healthier future for every student.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2025
And yet the day will inevitably come when the only space remaining to us will be these sanctuaries, a precious gift from enlightened mortals.”
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
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.
