asylum
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the protection a country gives to someone who has left their own country because they were in danger.
the legal and physical protection granted by a state to a foreign citizen who is a political refugee.
Simple“The family moved across the border to seek asylum from the war.”
In context“The government granted her political asylum after she provided evidence that her life was in imminent danger in her home country.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'seek', 'grant', or 'claim'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
a place where you can go to be safe from trouble or danger.
a place of retreat, safety, or sanctuary from pursuit or hardship.
Simple“The quiet library was his asylum from the noisy city streets.”
In context“For the weary traveller, the mountain monastery served as a peaceful asylum from the chaos of the civil unrest below.”
Teacher's tipIn modern English, this general sense of 'safety' is often replaced by 'sanctuary' or 'haven' to avoid confusion with the legal or historical senses.
- 03 C1 Advanced
an old word for a hospital where people with mental illnesses were kept.
an institution for the care and often restraint of the mentally ill or destitute.
Simple“The old stone building used to be an asylum for the poor.”
In context“Nineteenth-century reformers worked to improve the grim conditions found in the county's largest lunatic asylum.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is now considered offensive or dated; modern speakers use 'psychiatric hospital' or 'mental health facility'.
Synonymsinstitutionsanitarium
Usage asylum seekers
“On Sunday, hundreds of migrants staged a protest on a popular urban beach, urging Spanish authorities to grant them asylum instead of sending them back to Morocco.”
“We still have to wait for a final decision.” Their lawyer, who requested not to be named for security reasons, hopes they will be granted asylum soon.”
From Latin asylum, from Ancient Greek ἄσυλον (ásulon).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.