1
: an inviolable place of refuge and protection giving shelter to criminals and debtors : sanctuary
3
a
: the protection or security afforded by an asylum : refuge
b
: protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees by a nation or by an embassy or other agency enjoying freedom from what is required by law for most people
4
somewhat old-fashioned
: an institution providing care and protection to needy individuals (such as the infirm or destitute) and especially the mentally ill
Synonyms
Examples of asylum in a Sentence
She asked for political asylum.
She was granted asylum after it was made clear that she would be killed if she returned to her native country.
Recent Examples on the Web
The center has served nearly 34,000 asylum seekers in the last two months, staffing people at the airport and transit centers to help migrants reach their final destination, said Executive Director Lindsay Toczylowski.
—
Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2024
The plan is to send some of the people the government says arrive illegally in the U.K. to Rwanda, where local authorities would process their asylum claims.
—Fatima Al-Kassab, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
Frank Lange, meanwhile, was born in Minnesota to a father who left Berlin in 1936 and a mother whose family found asylum in the U.S. after the Nazis took control of Vienna in 1939.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
Erik Beda has an asylum hearing set for April 2025.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 21 Apr. 2024
As a consequence, Finland has closed its border with Russia, a move that has drawn pushback from humanitarian organizations who say denying asylum seekers access to a territory impinges on their human rights.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional context about receiving a work permit while pursuing a defensive asylum claim.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 12 Apr. 2024
The vast majority of asylum claims — in which immigrants claim fear of persecution or torture if they are removed to their home countries — in recent years have been defensive claims.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 12 Apr. 2024
Or heroes? Recommended Overall asylum claims from Russian citizens have surged since the full-scale invasion, but few are winning protection.
—Erika Kinetz, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Apr. 2024
Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2024
The plan is to send some of the people the government says arrive illegally in the U.K. to Rwanda, where local authorities would process their asylum claims.
—Fatima Al-Kassab, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
Frank Lange, meanwhile, was born in Minnesota to a father who left Berlin in 1936 and a mother whose family found asylum in the U.S. after the Nazis took control of Vienna in 1939.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
Erik Beda has an asylum hearing set for April 2025.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 21 Apr. 2024
As a consequence, Finland has closed its border with Russia, a move that has drawn pushback from humanitarian organizations who say denying asylum seekers access to a territory impinges on their human rights.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional context about receiving a work permit while pursuing a defensive asylum claim.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 12 Apr. 2024
The vast majority of asylum claims — in which immigrants claim fear of persecution or torture if they are removed to their home countries — in recent years have been defensive claims.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 12 Apr. 2024
Or heroes? Recommended Overall asylum claims from Russian citizens have surged since the full-scale invasion, but few are winning protection.
—Erika Kinetz, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'asylum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near asylum
Cite this Entry
“Asylum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asylum. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
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Medical Definition
asylum
noun
asy·lum
ə-ˈsī-ləm 
: an institution providing care and protection to needy individuals (such as the infirm or destitute) and especially the mentally ill
Legal Definition
asylum
noun
asy·lum
ə-ˈsī-ləm
: protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees by a nation or by an embassy or other agency that has diplomatic immunity
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