# holy

/ˈhoʊɫi/ (US) · /hˈəʊli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/holy
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. religious

adjective · CEFR B1

connected to a god or a religion and deserving great respect.

For teachers: dedicated to a religious purpose or deity; regarded with deep veneration within a faith tradition.

- The Ganges is considered a holy river by millions of people.
- The pilgrims traveled for weeks to reach the holy site, hoping to find spiritual peace within its ancient walls.

### 2. morally perfect

adjective · CEFR B2

living a life that is morally perfect and without sin.

For teachers: characterized by moral perfection or spiritual purity.

- She was remembered as a holy woman who spent her life helping the poor.
- The biography depicts the monk not just as a scholar, but as a truly holy man whose kindness influenced the entire community.

## Examples

- The priest read from a holy book.
- Thousands of people travel to the holy city every year to pray at the ancient temple.
- The preservation of these holy relics is of paramount importance to the community, as they represent a direct physical link to their spiritual ancestors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.