English Reference

Word

holiness

Phoneticsho·li·ness, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈhoʊɫinəs/

UK/hˈəʊlinəs/

Definitions

01spiritual purity

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Religion Formal

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

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

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

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

Synonyms

sanctitysacrednesspurity

Antonyms

unholinesswickedness

02a religious title

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Religion Formal

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

n. 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.

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

“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'.

Word family

NOUN

holiness(C1)

ADJECTIVE

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
Frequency
Frequent
Level
C1 · Advanced
Updated

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