asylum
n. uncountablen. protection given by a government to someone who has left their own country because they are in danger. It can also refer to a safe place or a hospital for people with mental illnesses, though this second meaning is old-fashioned.
n. the protection granted by a state to someone who has left their home country as a political refugee. Historically, it also refers to an institution for the care of people with mental health conditions.
The family applied for asylum as soon as they crossed the border.
After the coup, several journalists sought political asylum in the neighboring country to avoid imprisonment.
The treaty outlines the specific legal obligations that member states must uphold when processing claims for asylum from those fleeing systemic persecution or armed conflict.
From Latin asylum, from Ancient Greek ἄσυλον (ásulon).
Uncountable when referring to the legal status of protection; countable when referring to historical institutions for the mentally ill.
They asked for an asylumThey asked for asylumIn its modern legal sense, the word is uncountable and should not be used with an indefinite article.