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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."
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."

How to use holiness

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSacredness — or a formal title used to address religious leaders like the Pope.

Word forms

holinesses plural, Holinesses plural

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The monks devoted their lives to _____ and prayer.

Etymology

From Old English hāliġnes, built from "holy" plus the suffix "-ness."

Origin: Old English

Related words

Rhymes for holiness

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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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial