Vivian Lee
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Historically, churches have been places where fugitives could seek at least temporary protection from the law. In Anglo-Saxon England, churches and churchyards generally provided 40 days of immunity, and neither the sheriffs nor the army would enter to seize the outlaw. But gradually the right of sanctuary was eroded. In 1486 sanctuary for the crime of treason was disallowed, and sanctuary for most other crimes was severely restricted by Henry VIII and later abolished. In the 1980s many U.S. churches provided sanctuary to political refugees from Central America, and the U.S. government mostly chose not to interfere. Today, wildlife sanctuaries provide protection for the species within its boundaries, and farm-animal sanctuaries now rescue livestock from abuse and starvation.
Examples of sanctuary in a Sentence
Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 23 May 2026
Like many other grand hotels, it was occupied by Nazi soldiers during World War II and later served as a sanctuary for people returned from Europe’s concentration camps.
—Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 25 May 2026
The evening starts with a sunset cruise across Banderas Bay, where guests travel by boat or private yacht toward Las Caletas, a secluded beach and jungle sanctuary only accessible by water.
—Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Sanctuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanctuary. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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sanctuary
noun
