Word
sanctity
Phoneticssanc·ti·ty, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsæŋktɪti/
UK/sˈɑːnktɪti/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the quality of being very holy or important. You use this to describe something that is so special it must be protected and respected.
n. the state or quality of being holy, sacred, or saintly; ultimate importance and inviolability. Often used in legal or ethical contexts to describe rights or life that must not be violated.
Examples
“The law protects the sanctity of the home.”
“Many people believe in the sanctity of human life and argue that it should be protected at all costs.”
“The preservation of the sanctity of the attorney-client privilege is considered essential to the functioning of a fair and honest judicial system.”
Examples
simple
“The law protects the sanctity of the home.”
contextual
“Many people believe in the sanctity of human life and argue that it should be protected at all costs.”
complex
“The preservation of the sanctity of the attorney-client privilege is considered essential to the functioning of a fair and honest judicial system.”
Usage
Often paired with 'of' to describe a specific concept, such as 'the sanctity of marriage' or 'the sanctity of life'.
Real-World Examples
“The sanctity of the tabot radiates outward from the centre, so that the closer one is to the church, the more sacred the space.” “The teacher argues for the sanctity of family life but is himself a conspicuous loner; Hattie’s urge for self-discovery conceals a total disregard for other people including her anxious parents.” Etymology
From Middle English sanctity, from Old French sanctete, from Latin sānctitās.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/sanctity