A1 noun Neutral

sanctuary

/ˈsæŋktʃuɛri/

A safe place where people or animals are protected from danger or trouble. It is also a quiet, peaceful place where you can feel calm and relaxed.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The birds live in a nature sanctuary.

The birds live in a protected area for wildlife.

2

The government created a sanctuary for the rare tigers.

The state made a safe zone for the rare tigers.

3

My room is my sanctuary after a long day.

My room is my peaceful place after a long day.

Word Family

Noun
sanctuary
Verb
sanctify
Adjective
sanctuary-like
Related
sanctum
💡

Memory Tip

Sanctuary starts with 'S' just like 'Safe'. Think of a Safe Place.

Quick Quiz

The elephant was rescued and taken to a wildlife ____.

Correct!

The correct answer is: sanctuary

Examples

1

The birds live in a nature sanctuary.

everyday

The birds live in a protected area for wildlife.

2

The government created a sanctuary for the rare tigers.

formal

The state made a safe zone for the rare tigers.

3

My room is my sanctuary after a long day.

informal

My room is my peaceful place after a long day.

4

The forest acts as a sanctuary for many different species.

academic

The forest serves as a safe habitat for many kinds of animals.

5

The company garden provides a sanctuary for stressed workers.

business

The office garden offers a quiet place for stressed staff.

Word Family

Noun
sanctuary
Verb
sanctify
Adjective
sanctuary-like
Related
sanctum

Common Collocations

wildlife sanctuary a safe place for wild animals
seek sanctuary to look for a safe place
bird sanctuary a protected area for birds
provide sanctuary to give someone a safe place
nature sanctuary a protected natural area

Common Phrases

inner sanctuary

a very private or holy place

find sanctuary

to reach a safe location

tax sanctuary

a place to avoid paying high taxes (more commonly called a tax haven)

Often Confused With

sanctuary vs sanctity

Sanctity means being holy or sacred, while sanctuary is the physical safe place.

sanctuary vs asylum

Asylum is often used for legal/political protection, whereas sanctuary is more common for nature and general peace.

📝

Usage Notes

Use 'sanctuary' when you want to emphasize safety from harm or a deep sense of peace. It is very common in the context of animal conservation.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use 'sanctuary' to mean just any park, but it must be a place specifically for protection.

💡

Memory Tip

Sanctuary starts with 'S' just like 'Safe'. Think of a Safe Place.

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin word 'sanctuarium', which means a container for holy things or a sacred place.

Grammar Patterns

countable noun plural: sanctuaries often follows the verb 'seek' or 'provide'
🌍

Cultural Context

In history, people could go to a church to find sanctuary from the law because churches were considered holy ground.

Quick Quiz

The elephant was rescued and taken to a wildlife ____.

Correct!

The correct answer is: sanctuary

More nature words

omnivore

A1

An omnivore is an animal or person that eats both plants and meat. They have a varied diet because they can digest many different types of food sources.

scavenger

A1

A scavenger is an animal or a person that finds and collects things that others have thrown away or left behind. In nature, it refers to animals that eat dead plants or other dead animals to survive.

migration

A1

Migration is the movement of people or animals from one place to another to live or find food. It can happen every year with the seasons or be a permanent move to a new country.

hibernation

A1

Hibernation is a long, deep sleep that some animals take during the winter. It helps them save energy and survive when there is very little food available.

camouflage

A1

Camouflage is a way to hide by looking like the things around you. It helps animals and people stay safe by blending into the background so they are hard to see.

stream

A1

A stream is a small, narrow flow of water that moves naturally along a fixed path. It is smaller than a river and can usually be found in forests or parks.

pond

A1

A pond is a small area of still water that is smaller than a lake. It can be found naturally in the wild or built in a park or garden.

marsh

A1

A marsh is a type of wetland that is often flooded with water. It is usually covered with grasses, reeds, and other plants that like wet soil.

swamp

A1

A swamp is a low area of land that is always very wet or covered with water. It usually has many trees and plants growing in it and is often home to animals like frogs and alligators.

waterfall

A1

A waterfall is a place where a river or stream flows over a high, steep cliff or rock. It is a beautiful natural feature often found in mountainous areas where water drops vertically.

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Start learning languages for free

Start Learning Free