sanctity

noun

sanc·​ti·​ty ˈsaŋ(k)-tə-tē 

plural sanctities

1

: holiness of life and character : godliness

2

a

: the quality or state of being holy or sacred : inviolability

b

sanctities plural : sacred objects, obligations, or rights

Synonyms of sanctity

• holiness
• spirituality

Examples of sanctity in a Sentence

the sanctity of the elderly nun shone through in her every word and gesture

Recent Examples on the Web

To ensure the sanctity of the grand jury, its proceedings and the identities of the grand jurors and witnesses are unavailable to the public. —Barbara Jaffe, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026

Even then, the sanctity of the home and the right to privacy were seen as core American principles, shared across the political spectrum. —Amanda Cats-Baril, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2026

But for two second-year students who cared more about being close to the dining hall than the sanctity of sleep, the rooms were perfect. —Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026

These words date to 1905, but Kimmel attributes their ethos to ancient, enduring Jewish attitudes about the sanctity of childhood and the innate preciousness of children. —Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English saunctite, from Anglo-French sainteté, from Latin sanctitat-, sanctitas, from sanctus sacred

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sanctity

noun

sanc·​ti·​ty ˈsaŋ(k)-tət-ē 

plural sanctities

1

: holiness sense 1, saintliness

2

: the quality or state of being holy or sacred