sanctuary

American  

[sangk-choo-er-ee] / ˈsæŋk tʃuˌɛr i /

noun

• sanctuaries
  plural

1. a sacred or holy place.

   Synonyms:

   adytum, sanctum, shrine, altar, temple, church

2. Judaism.

   1. the Biblical tabernacle or the Temple in Jerusalem.

   2. the holy of holies of these places of worship.

3. an especially holy place in a temple or church.

4. the part of a church around the altar; the chancel.

5. a church or other sacred place where fugitives were formerly entitled to immunity from arrest.

6. immunity afforded by refuge in such a place.

7. any place of refuge; asylum.

8. a tract of land where birds and wildlife, especially those hunted for sport, can breed and take refuge in safety from hunters.

   Synonyms:

   preserve

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sanctuary British  

/ ˈsæŋktjʊərɪ /

noun

1. a holy place

2. a consecrated building or shrine

3. Old Testament

   1. the Israelite temple at Jerusalem, esp the holy of holies

   2. the tabernacle in which the Ark was enshrined during the wanderings of the Israelites

4. the chancel, or that part of a sacred building surrounding the main altar

5. 1. a sacred building where fugitives were formerly entitled to immunity from arrest or execution

   2. the immunity so afforded

6. a place of refuge; asylum

7. a place, protected by law, where animals, esp birds, can live and breed without interference

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• sanctuaried
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sanctuaries
  plural

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sanctuary sanctuaries

Samba died surrounded by the veterinary staff and her sanctuary family, including Anderson.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

Dale Anderson, founder of the 93-acre exotic cat haven, told The Times the sanctuary staff members start their day at 7 a.m. to tend to the animals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

Her Dollywood amusement park has a lot more than rollercoasters - it's also home to the largest sanctuary for non-releasable bald eagles in the world.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

According to the sanctuary, the purchased plot of land had historically been used for agriculture and will enable it to rescue more goats and double its on-site capacity.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

“And also with you,” I replied before turning and walking back to the pew at the front of the sanctuary, where my confirmation class was seated.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

In recent decades, sightings were rare and Florida classified them extirpated, insisting that any spotted in nature were escapees from zoos or sanctuaries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

“All of the sanctuaries, everywhere you look, all of the rescues, the reputable ones, they’re bursting at the seams,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026

This rapid urbanisation meant grasslands were seen as empty places to build, not sanctuaries to conserve.

From BBC ● Dec. 28, 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

He assured his audience that as soon as the enemy sanctuaries had been eliminated and NVA military supplies destroyed, American troops would be withdrawn.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

Related Words

• asylum
• church
• harbor
• haven
• hideout
• oasis
• protection
• refuge
• resort
• retreat
• shelter