asylum
0 antonyms and opposites of asylum, grouped by meaning.
Noun — Protection given by a country to someone fleeing danger or persecution in their own country.
How to use asylum
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin asylum, from Ancient Greek asylon ("sanctuary, refuge"), literally "not subject to seizure."
Full origin of asylum →Frequently asked questions
What does “asylum” mean?
The word “asylum” means protection given by a country to someone fleeing danger or persecution in their own country. In plain terms, safety and shelter given to someone fleeing danger — or, in older usage, an institution that housed the mentally ill.
How do you pronounce “asylum”?
“Asylum” is pronounced uh-SEYE-luhm (/əˈsaɪləm/ in IPA).
How do you use “asylum” in a sentence?
Here is “asylum” used in a sentence: “She applied for asylum after fleeing the civil war.”
What is another word for “asylum”?
Words with a similar meaning to “asylum” include sanctuary and shelter.
What part of speech is “asylum”?
“Asylum” is a noun.
Where does the word “asylum” come from?
The word “asylum” comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin asylum, from Ancient Greek asylon ("sanctuary, refuge"), literally "not subject to seizure.".
Is “asylum” a common word?
“Asylum” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “asylum” have?
“Asylum” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: protection given by a country to someone fleeing danger or persecution in their own country.
What is the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee?
An asylum seeker is someone who has asked a country for protection and is waiting for a decision on that claim. A refugee is someone whose need for protection has been formally recognised. In everyday terms, seeking asylum is the process, and refugee status is one possible outcome.
Is it "seek asylum," "claim asylum," or "apply for asylum"?
All three are standard. Seek asylum is the most general, claim asylum is especially common in British English, and apply for asylum emphasises the formal procedure. The country then grants or refuses asylum.
What is the difference between asylum and sanctuary?
Both can mean a place of safety or refuge, but asylum has a specific legal sense: protection a country gives to people fleeing danger or persecution in their own country. Sanctuary leans towards physical places of shelter — historically churches, and today also wildlife reserves — while asylum dominates in immigration contexts.
Why were psychiatric hospitals called asylums?
The dated institutional sense grew out of the word's broader meaning of a place of safety or refuge: such institutions were conceived as places of shelter and care for people with mental illness. That use is now considered outdated, and modern usage prefers terms like psychiatric hospital.