asylum
noun
asy·lum ə-ˈsī-ləm 
1
: an inviolable place of refuge and protection giving shelter to criminals and debtors : sanctuary
2
: a place of retreat and security : shelter
3
a
: the protection or security afforded by an asylum : refuge
b
: protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees by a nation or by an embassy or other agency enjoying freedom from what is required by law for most people
4
somewhat old-fashioned : an institution providing care and protection to needy individuals (such as the infirm or destitute) and especially the mentally ill
Synonyms
- bolt-hole [chiefly British]
- harbor
- harborage
- haven
- refuge
- retreat
- sanctuary
- sanctum
- shelter
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She asked for political asylum. She was granted asylum after it was made clear that she would be killed if she returned to her native country.
Recent Examples on the Web In theory, the rule that denies migrants the right to seek asylum on grounds of preventing spread of COVID-19 applies to all nationalities. 
Elliot Spagat, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022 Pimentel, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, praised the move by the Biden Administration to allow migrants to seek asylum at ports of entry through an exception to Title 42. Rosa Flores And Julia Jones, CNN, 1 Sep. 2022 Nearly 73,000, or 40%, of the Border Patrol arrests in July resulted in migrants being expelled to Mexico or their home countries without an opportunity to seek asylum. Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2022 First created in 2019 by then-President Donald Trump, the program was intended as a deterrence measure against migrants crossing the border illegally into the U.S. to seek asylum. Michelle Hackman, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 The United States has expelled or deported thousands of Haitians, though that number fell in June as the Biden administration allowed more coming through legal ports of entry to seek asylum. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 7 Aug. 2022 Shayevich left Azerbaijan in the Nineties to seek asylum in the United States. Bela Shayevich, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022 Many of them funneled into Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, and crossed the Rio Grande into Del Rio, Texas, to seek asylum in the United States. Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 8 July 2022 Gaston, whose full name is being withheld over fears for his safety, planned to surrender to border officials and seek asylum in the United States. Amanda Su, ABC News, 20 June 2022 See More
Elliot Spagat, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022 Pimentel, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, praised the move by the Biden Administration to allow migrants to seek asylum at ports of entry through an exception to Title 42. Rosa Flores And Julia Jones, CNN, 1 Sep. 2022 Nearly 73,000, or 40%, of the Border Patrol arrests in July resulted in migrants being expelled to Mexico or their home countries without an opportunity to seek asylum. Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2022 First created in 2019 by then-President Donald Trump, the program was intended as a deterrence measure against migrants crossing the border illegally into the U.S. to seek asylum. Michelle Hackman, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 The United States has expelled or deported thousands of Haitians, though that number fell in June as the Biden administration allowed more coming through legal ports of entry to seek asylum. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 7 Aug. 2022 Shayevich left Azerbaijan in the Nineties to seek asylum in the United States. Bela Shayevich, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022 Many of them funneled into Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, and crossed the Rio Grande into Del Rio, Texas, to seek asylum in the United States. Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 8 July 2022 Gaston, whose full name is being withheld over fears for his safety, planned to surrender to border officials and seek asylum in the United States. Amanda Su, ABC News, 20 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin, from Greek asylon, neuter of asylos inviolable, from a- + sylon right of seizure
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing asylum
Kids Definition
asylum
noun
asy·lum ə-ˈsī-ləm
1
: a place of protection and shelter
They sought asylum from the storm.
2
: protection given especially to political refugees
3
: a place for the care of the poor or the physically or mentally ill
Hint: Sense 3 is somewhat old-fashioned.
Medical Definition
asylum
noun
asy·lum ə-ˈsī-ləm
: an institution providing care and protection to needy individuals (such as the infirm or destitute) and especially the mentally ill
Legal Definition
asylum
noun
asy·lum ə-ˈsī-ləm
: protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees by a nation or by an embassy or other agency that has diplomatic immunity
asylum
noun
as in refuge
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger the embassy serves as an asylum for that country's nationals in need of help Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- refuge
- shelter
- sanctuary
- retreat
- residence
- haven
- sanctum
- harbor
- lodging
- oasis
- bolt-hole
- housing
- hideout
- abode
- port
- harborage
- house
- dwelling
- domicile
- anchorage
- cloister
- fortress
- rest
- mooring
- quarters
- castle
- roof
- habitation
- fort
- screen
- hideaway
- stronghold
- lair
- hermitage
- place
- closet
- diggings
- lodgment
- den
- covert
- cover
- lodgement
- lee
- redoubt
- shed
- palisade
- fastness
- pad
- windbreak
- lean-to
- misconceives
- misconceiving
- misconception
- misconceptions
- misconduct
- misconducted
- misconducting
- misconducts
- misconjectured
- misconjectures
- misconjecturing
- misconnect
- misconnected
- misconnecting
- misconnection
- misconnections
- misconnects
- Lawrence's goldfinch
- Lawrencian
- lawrencite
- lawrencium
- lawrenciums
- lawrentian
- laws
- laws merchant