Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

sanctity

noun sanc·ti·ty \ ˈsaŋ(k)-tə-tē \
|Updated on: 19 Aug 2018

Definition of sanctity

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

See sanctity defined for English-language learners

See sanctity defined for kids

Examples of sanctity in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of sanctity from the Web

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

Origin and Etymology of sanctity

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

sanctity Synonyms

Synonyms

blessedness, devoutness, godliness, holiness, piety, piousness, sainthood, saintliness, saintship;

Antonyms

godlessness, impiety, ungodliness, unholiness;

Near Antonyms

blasphemousness, irreverence, sacrilegiousness;

depravedness, depravity, evilness, heinousness, monstrosity, sinfulness, vileness, wickedness;

hypocrisy, sanctimoniousness, sanctimony;

Related Words

asceticism, devotion, morality, prayerfulness, religiousness, spirituality;

priestliness;

goodness, rectitude, righteousness, uprightness, virtue, virtuousness;

consecration, sacredness;

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

SANCTITY Defined for English Language Learners

sanctity

noun

Definition of sanctity for English Language Learners

  • : the quality or state of being holy, very important, or valuable

Learn More about sanctity

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sanctity Spanish Central: Translation of sanctity Nglish: Translation of sanctity for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sanctity for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up sanctity? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

cerulean

play

resembling the blue of the sky

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

sanctity

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games