ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sanctity

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˈsæŋktɪti// UK //sˈɑːnktɪti// sanc·ti·ty

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.


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.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English sanctity, from Old French sanctete, from Latin sānctitās.

Usage

Often paired with 'of' to describe a specific concept, such as 'the sanctity of marriage' or 'the sanctity of life'.

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