Sanctuary
noun /ˈsæŋk.tʃu.ər.i/ — A place of refuge and safety; a holy place.
Definition
A place of refuge or safety; in religious traditions, a holy and inviolable space. A wildlife sanctuary protects animals from harm. A personal sanctuary is wherever you can be fully yourself without defence.
Beyond the definition
Everyone needs a sanctuary — a place where they are not performing, not managing impressions, not being careful. The sanctuary is where the self can relax. Without it, the performance never ends.
Origin & history
Latin: 'sanctuarium' (holy place, treasury). From 'sanctus' (holy). In medieval Europe, church sanctuary offered legal protection — those who reached the altar could not be arrested. The sacred space as protected space.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The library was her sanctuary — the one place no one needed anything from her.
He built a sanctuary in the corner of his flat: one chair, one lamp, nothing that needed doing.
She had lost her sanctuary when they moved and had not yet found a replacement.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Sanctuary” when the meaning fits your context: A place of refuge or safety; in religious traditions, a holy and inviolable space. A wildlife sanctuary protects animals from harm. A personal sanctuary is wherever you can be fully yourself without defence.
Synonyms
Antonyms
exposure, threat, danger
Related words
Sanctuary vs refuge
Refuge is a general term for any place that provides shelter or protection from danger. Sanctuary adds a connotation of sanctity or immunity, often suggesting legal or moral protection.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Safety From The Violent Storm
Inside a small, wood-paneled room, an adult is curled up in a chair with a blanket, a book, and a drink, while trees sway violently outside.
The room functions as a sanctuary, a physical space that provides a clear refuge from the threatening conditions outside. The contrast between the storm and the calm interior highlights that a sanctuary is fundamentally any place where one can be fully defended and at rest.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Sanctuary" mean?
Sanctuary is noun meaning: A place of refuge and safety; a holy place.. A place of refuge or safety; in religious traditions, a holy and inviolable space. A wildlife sanctuary protects animals from harm. A personal sanctuary is wherever you can be fully yourself without defence.
Where does the word "Sanctuary" come from?
Latin: 'sanctuarium' (holy place, treasury). From 'sanctus' (holy). In medieval Europe, church sanctuary offered legal protection — those who reached the altar could not be arrested. The sacred space as protected space.