English Reference
noun

holiness

n.
US /ˈhoʊɫinəs/ UK /hˈəʊlinəs/ ho·li·ness

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal Religion

    the state of being holy, pure, or very close to God.

    the quality or state of being holy, sacred, or spiritually perfect. Uncountable in this abstract sense.

    Simple

    Many people visit the temple to feel a sense of peace and holiness.

    In context

    The pilgrims were deeply moved by the perceived holiness of the shrine, which had been a site of prayer for over a thousand years.

    sanctitysacrednesspurity
    unholinesswickedness
  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Formal Religion

    a title used when speaking to or about a high religious leader, such as the Pope.

    a formal title of address or reference for high-ranking religious officials, most notably the Pope or the Dalai Lama. Always capitalized when used as a title.

    Simple

    The crowd waited for hours to see His Holiness the Pope.

    In context

    During the private audience, the ambassador addressed the spiritual leader as Your Holiness, following the strict protocol of the Vatican.

    Pitfall
    I met holiness yesterday. I met His Holiness yesterday.

    When using this as a title, you must include a possessive pronoun like 'His', 'Your', or 'Their'.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated