All Words
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Word of the Day

sanctuary

noun

A place of refuge or safety; a nature reserve for wildlife; a holy place such as a church or temple.

Common - Frequently used in everyday language

Etymology

From Latin sanctuarium "a sacred place, shrine," from sanctus "holy, consecrated," past participle of sancire "to make sacred."

Examples in Use

  • 1.

    "The church provided sanctuary to refugees fleeing persecution."

  • 2.

    "The bird sanctuary protects endangered species along the migration route."

  • 3.

    "Her garden was a sanctuary from the stress of daily life."

Related Vocabulary

Synonyms

refugehavenasylumshelterretreat

Related Words

templeshrinereserveharbor

Fun Fact

In medieval England, anyone who reached a church sanctuary could claim protection from arrest for 40 days. This "right of sanctuary" was formally abolished in 1623 but influenced modern concepts of asylum.

Word Game Tips

Letters: 9 letters (S, A, N, C, T, U, A, R, Y)

Scrabble Value: 14 points

Tip: Words ending in "RY" are often good scoring opportunities.

Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!

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