sanctuary
A place or situation where a person feels safe and protected from danger or problems.
A place or situation where someone is protected from danger, trouble, or emotional stress.
A special place where wild animals or birds can live safely and people cannot hunt or hurt them.
An area where animals, birds, or other wildlife are protected and allowed to live safely, especially from hunting or destruction of their habitat.
Protection that stops the police or government from taking or sending a person away when that person is in a certain place.
Legal or official protection given to someone, especially to prevent their arrest, punishment, or deportation within a particular place.
A special, holy place where people pray or worship in a religion.
A holy place used for religious worship, such as a part of a temple, church, or other religious building that is considered especially sacred.
The front part of a Christian church, near the altar, where the priest and choir stand.
The area at the front of a Christian church, around or near the altar, that is usually slightly raised and reserved for clergy, choir, or other officials.
- Base: sanctuary
- Plural: sanctuaries, sanctuary
animal sanctuary
1care facility for rescued animals
A place that takes care of animals that are sick, old, or have no home, and protects them from harm.
- She volunteers at an animal sanctuary on weekends.
- The farm was turned into an animal sanctuary for retired horses.
bird sanctuary
1protected area for birds
A place where birds can live safely and people cannot hunt them or destroy their homes.
- The island has been turned into a bird sanctuary.
- We saw many rare species at the coastal bird sanctuary.
find sanctuary in
1feel safe or calm thanks to something
To feel safe, calm, or protected because of a place, activity, or person.
- He finds sanctuary in painting when life becomes stressful.
- Many people find sanctuary in nature during difficult times.
- After the accident, she found sanctuary in her daily routine.
give sanctuary
1allow protected stay from authorities
To let someone stay in a place so that the police or other authorities cannot easily take them.
- The embassy gave sanctuary to the activists for several months.
- Some churches give sanctuary to people who fear deportation.
- Villagers risked punishment to give sanctuary to the soldiers who had deserted.
offer sanctuary
1give someone a safe place
To give someone a place where they will be safe and protected.
- Local families offered sanctuary to people who lost their homes in the fire.
- The organization offers sanctuary to survivors of domestic violence.
- The small island nation offered sanctuary to climate refugees.
sanctuary city
1city limiting immigration enforcement cooperation
A city where local government chooses not to fully help national immigration police, in order to protect some people who do not have legal immigration status.
- The mayor announced that her city would become a sanctuary city.
- Debates over sanctuary cities have become a major political issue.
- Critics argue that sanctuary cities make it harder to enforce immigration laws.
seek sanctuary
1try to find safety or refuge
To look for a place where you will be safe from danger, problems, or people who want to harm you.
- Hundreds of villagers sought sanctuary in the school when the fighting began.
- Journalists who were threatened sought sanctuary in a neighboring country.
- She sought sanctuary with relatives after leaving her abusive partner.
wildlife sanctuary
1protected area for wild animals
A large natural place where wild animals are protected and people cannot hunt them or build houses there.
- We visited a wildlife sanctuary on our trip to Africa.
- The new law will expand the wildlife sanctuary to include more forest.
- Tourism helps pay for the wildlife sanctuary's conservation work.