sanctuary

CEFRC1

/ˈsæŋktjʊəɹi/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A safe place where people or animals are protected.

  2. 02

    noun

    The holiest part of a church.

Examples

  • A biodiversity sanctuary in Brazil called The Pantanal is threatened by deforestation.

  • The sanctuary is before; and the thief, behind.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /ˈsæŋkt͡ʃuˌɛɹi/
  • /ˈsæŋkt͡ʃʊəɹi/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A state of being protected, asylum.

  2. An area set aside for protection.

  3. A place of safety, refuge, or protection.

More examples

In context

  • My car is a sanctuary, where none can disturb me except for people who cut me off.

  • The bird sanctuary has strict restrictions on visitors so the birds aren't disturbed.

  • The government granted sanctuary to the defector, protecting him from his former government.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The bird flew to a wildlife blank where it was safe from hunters.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English seyntuarie, from Old French saintuaire, from Late Latin sanctuarium (“a sacred place, a shrine, a private cabinet, in Medieval Latin also temple, church, churchyard, cemetery, right of asylum”), from Latin sanctus (“holy, sacred”); see saint.