sanctuary

1 of 2

noun

sanc·​tu·​ary ˈsaŋ(k)-chə-ˌwer-ē 

plural sanctuaries

1

: a consecrated place: such as

a

: the ancient Hebrew temple at Jerusalem or its holy of holies

b(1)

: the most sacred part of a religious building (such as the part of a Christian church in which the altar is placed)

(2)

: the room in which general worship services are held

(3)

: a place (such as a church or a temple) for worship

2

a(1)

: a place of refuge and protection

(2)

: a refuge for wildlife where predators are controlled and hunting is illegal

b

: the immunity from law attached to a sanctuary

sanctuary

2 of 2

adjective

US

: relating to or being a locality that provides limited cooperation to federal officials in the enforcement of immigration laws or policies

a sanctuary jurisdiction

sanctuary policies

… the executive order … designed to crack down on so-called "sanctuary cities," municipalities that do not comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement … requests for assistance with identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants.

—Euan McKirdy

Did you know?

Historically, churches have been places where fugitives could seek at least temporary protection from the law. In Anglo-Saxon England, churches and churchyards generally provided 40 days of immunity, and neither the sheriffs nor the army would enter to seize the outlaw. But gradually the right of sanctuary was eroded. In 1486 sanctuary for the crime of treason was disallowed, and sanctuary for most other crimes was severely restricted by Henry VIII and later abolished. In the 1980s many U.S. churches provided sanctuary to political refugees from Central America, and the U.S. government mostly chose not to interfere. Today, wildlife sanctuaries provide protection for the species within its boundaries, and farm-animal sanctuaries now rescue livestock from abuse and starvation.

Synonyms

Noun

• sanctum
• shrine

Examples of sanctuary in a Sentence

Noun

The house was a sanctuary for runaway teens.

The refugees found sanctuary when they crossed the border.

The sanctuary contains the altar of sacrifice.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

These churches are great places to shelter and give sanctuary to immigrant families. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Dec. 2024

And although the country was under military dictatorship, the Paiva home, in walking distance of a paradisiacal beach, was something of a sanctuary. —Gregory Ellwood, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Under current New York City’s sanctuary policies, local authorities are largely prevented from honoring ICE detainer requests, with some exemptions including for those convicted of violent or serious crimes. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 3 Dec. 2024

The source within the Texas government, whose identity was kept anonymous, told The Post about efforts to allow such transport to take migrants directly to federal detention centers rather than sanctuary cities in order to speed up the deportation process. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English seintuarie, sanctuarie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin sanctuarium, from Latin sanctus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1985, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sanctuary

• sanctuary cities

Kids Definition

sanctuary

noun

sanc·​tu·​ary ˈsaŋ(k)-chə-ˌwer-ē 

plural sanctuaries

1

: a holy or sacred place

2

: the most sacred part of a place of worship

3

: a building or room for religious worship

4

: a place that provides shelter or protection

a wildlife sanctuary

5

: protection provided by a sanctuary