Trivia Time

Which 20th-century advocate is most closely associated with the animal sanctuary movement?

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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

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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

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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

A Florida chimpanzee sanctuary that provides lifelong care for animals formerly used in research laboratories, the pet trade and the entertainment industry was hit by flooding that left roads impassable.

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026

Granted sanctuary by the Japanese, who held a foreign concession in the nearby city of Tianjin, Puyi passed “from one set of captors to another.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

“Originally celebrated for its connection to former owner Richard Simmons and the private sanctuary he created, the property is now being reintroduced as a compelling canvas for transformation,” Rosten explains.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026

The area borders the vast Rose Atoll marine sanctuary, where endangered species of hawksbill turtle thrive on vibrant reefs.

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

He looks beyond her garden to the nest out in the field, barely able to see its shape from this far away, but he imagines it already in the educational room at the sanctuary.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers

Mamdani said city officials were considering several proposals, including taking the horses to sanctuaries or farms, although the legislation doesn’t specify who would pay for their upkeep.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

But offshore sanctuaries have yet to be proven a successful solution for retiring performing whales.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

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

The rising cost of food and veterinary services, which can put even individual pet owners in difficult situations, creates an even bigger burden on sanctuaries and rescues caring for so many animals.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2026

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

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Related Words

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

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