Sanctuary
noun
Definition
1. (noun) A place where you feel safe, peaceful, and protected from the outside world.
2. (noun) A protected area where animals or birds live safely and cannot be hunted or disturbed.
2. (noun) A protected area where animals or birds live safely and cannot be hunted or disturbed.
Context Alive
You've had the worst week at work — long hours, difficult clients, and no time for yourself. On Saturday morning you drive to your parents' house in the countryside. The moment you step through the front door, you smell your mum's cooking and hear nothing but birds outside. This place has always been your sanctuary. You sit in the garden with a cup of tea and for the first time all week, your shoulders relax.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 A Safe, Peaceful Place (Noun) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about a place that gives you a feeling of safety, calm, and escape from stress or danger. Imagine someone who lives in a noisy, crowded city — their small balcony full of plants is the only place where they feel calm. That balcony is their sanctuary. This is describing a place that protects you emotionally or physically from everything difficult on the outside. You might say "my bedroom is my sanctuary" when it's the only place you can truly relax, or someone could say "the library became her sanctuary" about a student who went there every day to escape problems at home. Or picture someone going through a stressful divorce — every Sunday they go to a quiet café by the river, and that café becomes their sanctuary, the one place where they feel like themselves again. The word suggests peace, protection, and a strong emotional connection to the place.
✏️ Sanctuary originally meant a holy place in a church — the most sacred part of the building. That religious sense still exists, but today the word is far more commonly used for any place that feels safe and peaceful. When someone calls a place their sanctuary, they're saying it's almost sacred to them personally — it carries deep emotional weight.
2 A Protected Area for Animals (Noun) Common ▼
This meaning is about a specific area of land or water set aside to protect wildlife — animals there are safe from hunting, development, or human interference. Imagine driving through East Africa and entering a wildlife sanctuary where elephants, giraffes, and zebras roam freely across open grassland. This is describing a place that exists specifically to keep animals safe. You might read about "a bird sanctuary" near a lake where rare species are protected during migration season, or someone could say "they rescued the tiger and took it to a sanctuary" about an animal saved from illegal captivity. Or think about a coastal town with a marine sanctuary where fishing is banned so that coral reefs and sea life can recover. The word suggests official protection and a commitment to keeping living things safe from harm.
✏️ Animal sanctuary and wildlife sanctuary are the most common combinations for this meaning. There's a difference between a sanctuary and a zoo — a sanctuary focuses on protection and rescue, not display. You'll also hear sanctuary used for rescued pets: "a dog sanctuary" or "a cat sanctuary" — places that take in abandoned animals.
Common Patterns
Basic Structures
a/the sanctuary → referring to a specific safe place or protected area
The garden behind the house became her sanctuary during the difficult months.
someone's sanctuary → a personal safe space that belongs emotionally to one person
His studio is his sanctuary — nobody is allowed in without permission.
a + type + sanctuary → specifying the kind of sanctuary — wildlife, bird, marine, etc.
They visited a bird sanctuary on the coast during their holiday.
Common Structures
find / seek sanctuary → to look for or discover a place of safety
After the war, thousands of families sought sanctuary in neighbouring countries.
offer / provide sanctuary → to give someone a safe place to go
The old church offered sanctuary to anyone who needed shelter from the storm.
a sanctuary from + noun → a place that protects you from something specific
The cabin in the mountains was a sanctuary from the noise of city life.
Collocations
10 collocationswildlife sanctuary
a protected area where wild animals live safely
bird sanctuary
a protected area for birds, often near water
animal sanctuary
a place that rescues and cares for animals
marine sanctuary
a protected area of ocean or coastline
find sanctuary
to discover or reach a place of safety
seek sanctuary
to look for protection or a safe place
offer sanctuary
to provide safety or shelter to someone
a sanctuary from something
a place that protects from a specific stress or danger
inner sanctuary
the most private, protected part of a place — or a person's private mental space
safe sanctuary
emphasises the protective quality of the place
Example Sentences
10 examples
1
Her bedroom is her sanctuary — she goes there whenever she needs to think.
Her bedroom is her safe space — she retreats there whenever she needs to clear her head.
2
They visited a wildlife sanctuary in Kenya and saw elephants up close.
They went to a protected nature reserve in Kenya and got to see elephants from nearby.
3
The library was his sanctuary during a difficult period at school.
The library was the one place he felt safe during a tough time at school.
4
The island has been declared a marine sanctuary to protect the coral reefs.
The island has been officially designated as a protected zone to save the coral.
5
After a long day, a hot bath is my sanctuary — I lock the door and forget everything.
After an exhausting day, a warm bath is my escape — I shut the door and switch off completely.
6
Thousands of refugees sought sanctuary across the border during the conflict.
Thousands of displaced people looked for safety in the neighbouring country during the war.
7
The dog was rescued from the streets and taken to an animal sanctuary.
The dog was saved from living on the streets and brought to a shelter for rescued animals.
8
This café has become a sanctuary for me — I come here every Sunday morning.
This café has turned into my personal retreat — I visit every Sunday without fail.
9
The old church offered sanctuary to travellers caught in the snowstorm.
The historic church provided shelter to people who got stuck in the blizzard.
10
She turned the spare room into a sanctuary for reading and meditation.
She converted the extra room into a peaceful space for books and quiet reflection.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsrefuge
very close in meaning — often implies escaping danger rather than just finding peace
haven
emphasises safety and comfort — slightly more literary
retreat
focuses on getting away from stress — often a temporary escape
Antonymsdanger zone
an area where you are exposed to risk or harm
battlefield
a place of conflict and chaos — the opposite of peace
exposure
being unprotected and open to threats — no shelter