noun
Uncommon
holiness
HOH-lee-nuhs
Holiness (noun) means the quality or state of being holy or sacred. Example: “The monks devoted their lives to holiness and prayer.”
noun
1
The quality or state of being holy or sacred.
"The monks devoted their lives to holiness and prayer."
"A deep sense of holiness filled the ancient temple at dawn."
"Pilgrims travel there because of the holiness of the spring."
"“Through the Sacraments, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier,” the conference says on its website."
— Chuck Johnston and Steve Almasy, A pastor baptized people for decades using one wrong word. Now those are all considered invalid (2022)
2
Used with "His" or "Your" as a formal title for certain religious leaders, notably the Pope.
"The crowd fell silent as His Holiness entered the square."
"The pilgrims waited for hours to catch a glimpse of His Holiness."
How to use holiness
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSacredness — or a formal title used to address religious leaders like the Pope.
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Word forms
- Plural
- holinesses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The monks devoted their lives to _____ and prayer.
Etymology
From Old English hāliġnes, built from "holy" plus the suffix "-ness."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unholiness
Related words
Rhymes for holiness
business
ugliness
laziness
happiness
craziness
weariness
readiness
emptiness
manliness
dizziness
tardiness
heaviness
See all rhymes for holiness →
Frequently asked questions
What does “holiness” mean?
The word “holiness” means the quality or state of being holy or sacred. In plain terms, sacredness — or a formal title used to address religious leaders like the Pope.
How do you pronounce “holiness”?
“Holiness” is pronounced HOH-lee-nuhs (/ˈhoʊlinəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “holiness” in a sentence?
Here is “holiness” used in a sentence: “The monks devoted their lives to holiness and prayer.”
What part of speech is “holiness”?
“Holiness” is a noun.
Where does the word “holiness” come from?
The word “holiness” comes from Old English. From Old English hāliġnes, built from "holy" plus the suffix "-ness.".
Is “holiness” a common word?
“Holiness” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “holiness” have?
“Holiness” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the quality or state of being holy or sacred.
