sanctify

verb sanc·ti·fy \ ˈsaŋ(k)-tə-ˌfī \

Definition of sanctify

sanctified; sanctifying

transitive verb

1 :to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use :consecrate

2 :to free from sin :purify

3 a :to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or respect to

b :to give moral or social sanction to

4 :to make productive of holiness or piety

observe the day of the sabbath, to sanctify it
—Deuteronomy 5:12 (Douay Version)

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Examples of sanctify in a Sentence

The priest sanctified their marriage.
The constitution sanctified the rights of the people.

Recent Examples of sanctify from the Web

The move also seems to sanctify Amazon’s role as the dominant interface between brands and users.

— Ángel gonzález, The Seattle Times, "Sign of surrender? Sears agrees to sell Kenmore brand on Amazon.com," 20 July 2017
In June of 2013, Unesco, the United Nation’s cultural arm, designated the mountain a World Heritage site—recognizing the peak as a defining symbol of the nation’s identity—and more or less sanctifying the climb as a bucket-list experience.

— gilles mingasson, Smithsonian, "Why Mount Fuji Endures As a Powerful Force in Japan," 2 May 2017
Guests will see priests sanctify the sprawling space on Friday and install new deities on Saturday and Sunday.

— jonathan m. pitts, baltimoresun.com, "Growing Hare Krishna congregation to open $3.6 million temple in Baltimore County," 28 Apr. 2017
Her books are sanctified by an expansive love for humankind.

— sam sacks, WSJ, "George Saunders’s Gospel of Compassion," 10 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sanctify.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sanctify

Middle English seintefien, sanctifien, from Anglo-French seintefier, sanctifier, from Late Latin sanctificare, from Latin sanctus sacred — more at saint

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First Known Use: 14th century

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