holy en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- hōʹlē (US)
- (US) audio
- /ˈhəʊli/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈhoʊli/ (US)
Etymology
From Middle English ali, aly, hale, halege, hali, halȝe, hayly, holi, holia, holie, holiȝ, holy, hooly, oli, oly, wholy, woly, from Old English hāleġ, hāliġ (“holy, sacred; healthy, sound”), from Proto-West Germanic *hailag, from Proto-Germanic *hailagaz (“holy, sacred”), from Proto-Germanic *hailaz (“healthy; whole”), from Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos (“intact, whole; complete; hale, healthy, sound”), equivalent to whole + -y and a doublet of later wholly. Cognates Cognate with Scots halie, haly (“holy”), Yola holly, holy (“holy”), Saterland Frisian helig (“holy”), Alemannic German, Dutch, and German heilig (“holy, sacred”), Cimbrian hòolig (“holy”), Luxembourgish helleg (“holy”), Vilamovian haeliḱ, haliky, hȧlikjy, hǡliḱ (“holy”), Yiddish הייליק (heylik, “holy”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål hellig (“holy”), Faroese heilagur (“holy”), Icelandic heilagur, helgur (“holy”), Norwegian Nynorsk heilag, heilag’u (“holy”), Swedish helig (“holy”), Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌰𐌲𐍃 (hailags, “holy”); also Latin cael, caelus, caelum, coelus, coelum (“heaven; sky; climate, weather”), Belarusian цэ́лы (cély, “entire, whole”), Bulgarian цял (cjal, “entire, full, intact, whole; real, regular, veritable”), Czech and Slovak celý (“whole”), Macedonian цел (cel, “entire, whole”), Polish cały (“entire, whole”), Russian це́лый (célyj, “entire, whole”), Serbo-Croatian це̏о, ци̏јел, ци̏о, cȅo, cȉjel, cȉo (“entire, whole”), Slovene cel (“whole”), Ukrainian ці́лий (cílyj, “entire, whole”). More at whole.
Meanings
-
Dedicated to a religious purpose or a god.
On Tuesday, a month since they were abducted, families of those kidnapped are expected to protest at the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem, the holiest site in Judaism, as well as at the Knesset, over what they say are inadequate efforts to reach a deal with Hamas to release their loved ones.
2023 November 6, Peter Beaumont, Bethan McKernan, “Israeli troops encircle Gaza City and expected to enter in force within 48 hours”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 23 Apr 2025:... where he and Basil read together poems and philosophies, and holier things, or talked low and misopogonistcally of their fellow-student Julian’s bearded boding smile were his happiest days.
1877, E.B. Browning, Some account of the Greek Christian poets, page 147:I'm planning to visit the holy city of Jerusalem this Christmas.
The growing sense that more and more religious Jews are now worshiping openly at the holy site was given support by a report over the weekend on Israel’s Channel 12, which broadcast footage of Jewish prayer sessions and Torah lessons it said were being held there daily.
2021 July 20, Andrew Carey, “A fragile status quo on prayer rights at Jerusalem holy site comes under fresh strain”, in CNN, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2022:“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.
2022 February 14, Chuck Johnston and Steve Almasy, “A pastor baptized people for decades using one wrong word. Now those are all considered invalid”, in CNN, archived from the original on 05 Jan 2025:
-
Revered in a religion.
This tree is considered holy in my culture.
-
Morally perfect or flawless, or nearly so.
My grandmother is a very holy woman.
- Separated or set apart from (something unto something or someone else).
- Set apart or dedicated for a specific purpose, or for use by a single entity or person.
-
(slang) Used as an intensifier in various interjections.
Holy mackerel
Holy cow, I can’t believe he actually lost the race!
Those children next door are holy terrors!
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| holie | alternative, archaic | lexicographic | |
| 'oly | alternative, pronunciation-spelling | lexicographic | |
| holier | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| hooly | alternative, archaic | lexicographic | |
| holiest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| Holy | alternative, capitalized | lexicographic |
Antonyms
unhallowed · profane · imperfect · faulty · secular · unholy · worldly · defective · secular · flawed · common · unholy · damaged · profane · worldly
Deriveds
holy Scripture · holyday · Holy Shroud · holy shmoly · holy piss · holy bucket · holy genocide · Holycross · Holy Island · holy cross · holy kamoly · Holy Qur'an · holy synod · Holy Tuesday · Holy Writ · Holy Rood · Holy Sabbath · Holy Week · Holy Church · Holyoak · holy sabbath · Holy Foreskin · Holy Thursday · holy writ · holy crap on a cracker · holy scripture · holy poke · holy war · Holy Bread · holy vervain · Holy Trinity · Holy Roman Empire · holy crow · holy rood · holy terror · Holy Qurbono · Holy Corner · holy catfish · holy snakes · holy stromboli · holy smoke · pope-holy · holy shamoley · Stoke Holy Cross · holy Sabbath · holy cannoli · Holy Mother Church · Holy Sepulchre · Holy Vedas · Holy Ghost · holy water · holy-water sprinkle · Holy Quran · holy cats · holy crud · holier than thou · holy kamoley · holy water sprinkler · holy hell · Holy Koran · holy fool · holy fire · Holy See · Holy Sea · holy trinity · holiest of holies · holy grass · holy unblack metal · holy show · nonholy · Holy Grail · holy Toledo · Five Holy Wounds · holy hour · holy Trinity · Holy Scripture · holy macaroni · Holy Redeemer · by the holy poker · Holy Monday · Holy Friday · Holy Sunday Church · holy mother of based · Holy Eucharist · Holywood · Holy Jumper · holy hand grenade · Holy Mother · holy fudge · holy year · court holy bread · holy scriptures · holy carp · Holybrook · Holy Body · Holycaust · holy Moses · Holy Communion · Holy Scriptures · for the love of all that is holy · Holyhead · holy basil · Holy Sacrifice · holy man · Holy Sunday · court holy water · holy guacamole · holy shit · Holy Saturday · holy bark · holy grail · Holy Cross · holy Hannah · holy cross frog · holy spirit · Holy Loch · Holy Book · holy crickets · holy buckets · Holy Family · holy text · in the name of all that is holy · holy crap on a stick · Mount of the Holy Cross · Holy Prepuce · Holy Qurbana · Holy Mother of God · holy orders · Holiness · Holy Father · Holy Sepulcher · holier-than-thou · Holyrood · Holy of Holies · Holyfield · holy based · Holywell · Holy Blood · Holy Cross Day · holy doodle · holy moley · holy moly · Holy Bible · take holy orders · holy matrimony · holy Scriptures · Holybourne · holy fuck · Holy Sacrifice of the Mass · holy cow · Holy Wednesday · holy smokes · holy balls · holy cricket · Holy Liturgy · holyish · holy mackerel · overholy · holy flax · Holy Spirit · holy card · holy ravioli · holy day · Holy Synod · Holy Roller · holystone · holy crap · Holy Qur’an · Great and Holy Thursday · holy day of obligation · holy bone · holy damn · holinight
Descendants
Hyponyms
Relateds
holiness · hallow · halibut · holiday · halidom · holily · hallowed
Synonyms
heavenly · cotton-picking · godly · consecrated · darn · plain · flipping · furshlugginer · blessed · frigging · ever-loving · perfect · mollyfogging · sniggered · fecking · infernal · reserved · hallowed · fucking · sacred · flawless · damnable · goddarned · confounded · goddam · dang · sacred · blooming · bleeding · holy · consarned · raasclaat · godly · blessed · godly · fugging · bally · sacred · darned · devoutful · sanctified · goshdarn · goddamn · dagnabbed · celestial · flaming · jiggered · fricking · infernal · precious · bleeping · goldurn · divine · dadburn · consecrated · divined · deuced · sanctified · cursed · blimming · 4ucking · cowson · goddamned · dashed · hecking · godforsaken · damn · gormed · faultless · effing · goshdarned · dadgum · damned · ruddy · stinking · hallowed · damblasted · holy · freaking · holy · sanctimonious · living · sacrate · fudging · pissing · blessed · doggone · motherfucking · accursed · dratted · hallowed · danged · blinking · sodding · bloody · sacred · blasted · cursed · special
Translations (226)
lv svēts (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nl volmaakt (flawless) · gd coisrigte (dedicated for a specific purpose) · pdt heilich (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ang hāliġ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · rup sãntu (dedicated to a religious purpose) · hrx heilich (dedicated to a religious purpose) · am ቅዱስ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · kw sans (dedicated to a religious purpose) · tk mukaddes (dedicated to a religious purpose) · is heilagur (dedicated to a religious purpose) · cu ⱄⰲⱔⱅⱏ (revered in a religion) · pl święty (dedicated to a religious purpose) · es sacro (dedicated to a religious purpose) · rup sãmtu (dedicated to a religious purpose) · fo heilagur (dedicated to a religious purpose) · he קדוש \ קָדוֹשׁ (dedicated for a specific purpose) · cmn 聖潔 /圣洁 (flawless) · fa مقدس (dedicated to a religious purpose) · sv helig (dedicated to a religious purpose) · fo halgur (dedicated to a religious purpose) · tr kutsal (revered in a religion) · la sacer (dedicated for a specific purpose) · ga diaganta (flawless) · pt sacro (revered in a religion) · cu свѧтъ (revered in a religion) · vi thần thánh (dedicated to a religious purpose) · el άγιος (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ml വിശുദ്ധ (revered in a religion) · yi הייליק (dedicated to a religious purpose) · fr sacré (dedicated to a religious purpose) · fur sant (dedicated to a religious purpose) · be святы́ (revered in a religion) · ru свято́й (flawless) · cu ⱄⰲⱔⱅⱏ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · pro sant (dedicated to a religious purpose) · pt sagrado (dedicated to a religious purpose) · fi pyhä (flawless) · lb helleg (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nrf saint (dedicated to a religious purpose) · dsb swěty (dedicated to a religious purpose) · vi thánh (dedicated to a religious purpose) · dsb swěty (revered in a religion) · hi पवित्र (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nv diyin (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nl gewijd (dedicated to a religious purpose) · uz muqaddas (dedicated to a religious purpose) · rm sontg (dedicated to a religious purpose) · grc ἅγιος (revered in a religion) · ro sfânt (revered in a religion) · ru свяще́нный (revered in a religion) · el άγιος (revered in a religion) · grc ἅγιος (dedicated to a religious purpose) · csb swiãti (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ca sagrat (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nv diyin (revered in a religion) · lt šventas (dedicated to a religious purpose) · pt sacro (dedicated to a religious purpose) · esu tanqilria (revered in a religion) · fr saint (revered in a religion) · gmy 𐀂𐀋𐀫 (dedicated to a religious purpose) · la sacer (revered in a religion) · sk svätý (revered in a religion) · az müqəddəs (dedicated to a religious purpose) · mi tapu (dedicated to a religious purpose) · hy սուրբ (dedicated for a specific purpose) · mi tapu (revered in a religion) · hy սուրբ (revered in a religion) · gd naomh (dedicated to a religious purpose) · bg свят (dedicated to a religious purpose) · es sagrado (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ro sfânt (dedicated to a religious purpose) · cmn 聖 /圣 (dedicated to a religious purpose) · eo sankta (dedicated to a religious purpose) · bg безупречен (flawless) · fi pyhä (dedicated to a religious purpose) · gd coisrigte (dedicated to a religious purpose) · fr saint (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nl heilig (dedicated for a specific purpose) · be свяшчэ́нны (revered in a religion) · ka წმინდა (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nl perfect (flawless) · fa اسپنتا (dedicated to a religious purpose) · cs svatý (revered in a religion) · ja 神聖 (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ug مۇقەددەس (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ota مقدس (revered in a religion) · es santo (revered in a religion) · hy սուրբ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · et püha (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ist santo (dedicated to a religious purpose) · el ιερός (dedicated for a specific purpose) · fo halga (slang intensifier) · ota مقدس (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nb hellig (revered in a religion) · nn heilag (dedicated to a religious purpose) · oc sacrat (dedicated to a religious purpose) · mk свет (dedicated to a religious purpose) · fa سپنتا (dedicated to a religious purpose) · tr kutsal (dedicated to a religious purpose) · rm sench (dedicated to a religious purpose) · grc ὅσιος (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ota شریف (dedicated to a religious purpose) · arz مقدس (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ko 거룩한 (dedicated to a religious purpose) · aii ܩܕܝܫܐ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ga naofa (dedicated to a religious purpose) · cy sanctaidd (revered in a religion) · th ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · cu свѧтъ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · pt imaculado (flawless) · nl heilig (dedicated to a religious purpose) · scn santu (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nl heilig (revered in a religion) · ar مُقَدَّس (dedicated to a religious purpose) · vec santo (dedicated to a religious purpose) · fi pyhä (revered in a religion) · egy Dsr:r (dedicated to a religious purpose) · la sacer (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ang hāleġ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ur مقدس (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ml പരിശുദ്ധ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · sc santu (dedicated to a religious purpose) · de heilig (dedicated to a religious purpose) · id keramat (revered in a religion) · ja 聖なる (dedicated to a religious purpose) · sh svet (dedicated to a religious purpose) · pdt heilich (revered in a religion) · pt sagrado (revered in a religion) · ko 신성한 (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nl sacraal (dedicated to a religious purpose) · chg مقدس (dedicated to a religious purpose) · oc sant (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ang hāleġ (revered in a religion) · ca sagrat (dedicated for a specific purpose) · xag 𐕌𐕒𐕡𐕟𐕒𐕡𐕙 (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ota عزیز (revered in a religion) · sco haly (dedicated to a religious purpose) · hu szent (dedicated to a religious purpose) · be святы́ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ga cráifeach (flawless) · ga beannaithe (dedicated to a religious purpose) · gd naomh (revered in a religion) · it santo (revered in a religion) · ga naofa (revered in a religion) · tr mukaddes (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nn heilag (revered in a religion) · it immacolato (flawless) · rm son (dedicated to a religious purpose) · it sacro (dedicated to a religious purpose) · kl iluartoq (revered in a religion) · sco haly (revered in a religion) · sh свет (dedicated to a religious purpose) · fo heilagur (revered in a religion) · is helgur (dedicated to a religious purpose) · de heilig (revered in a religion) · sk svätý (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nl ... huisje) (flawless) · lkt wakȟáŋ (revered in a religion) · rm sogn (dedicated to a religious purpose) · dlm suant (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ru свято́й (slang intensifier) · cs posvátný (revered in a religion) · cy sanctaidd (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ang hǣliġ (revered in a religion) · la sānctus (revered in a religion) · ms suci (dedicated to a religious purpose) · pl święty (slang intensifier) · nb hellig (dedicated to a religious purpose) · tt мөкаддәс (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ru бо́жий (slang intensifier) · pt santo (dedicated to a religious purpose) · fi pyhitetty (dedicated for a specific purpose) · bg свеще́н (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ca sant (revered in a religion) · mhr шнуй (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ru свято́й (revered in a religion) · be свяшчэ́нны (dedicated to a religious purpose) · gez ቅዱስ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · tr be mübarek (slang intensifier) · qu willka (revered in a religion) · ota عزیز (dedicated to a religious purpose) · sl svet (dedicated to a religious purpose) · uga 𐎖𐎄𐎌 (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nl foutloos (flawless) · cmn 神聖 /神圣 (dedicated to a religious purpose) · got 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐍃 (revered in a religion) · gl sagrado (dedicated to a religious purpose) · kl illernartoq (dedicated to a religious purpose) · uk святи́й (revered in a religion) · uk свяще́нний (revered in a religion) · fr bénit (revered in a religion) · da hellig (dedicated to a religious purpose) · mk свет (revered in a religion) · id keramat (dedicated to a religious purpose) · fi pyhitetty (separated from or set apart) · ba мөҡәддәс (dedicated to a religious purpose) · id kudus (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ml വിശുദ്ധ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ota شریف (revered in a religion) · rap tapu (separated from or set apart) · ru свято́й (dedicated to a religious purpose) · he קדוש \ קָדוֹשׁ (dedicated to a religious purpose) · got 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐍃 (dedicated to a religious purpose) · gl sacro (dedicated to a religious purpose) · sq shenjtë (dedicated to a religious purpose) · bg свят (revered in a religion) · fi pyhä (slang intensifier) · uk святи́й (dedicated to a religious purpose) · pl święty (revered in a religion) · ca sant (dedicated to a religious purpose) · rap tapu (dedicated to a religious purpose) · nl sacraal (revered in a religion) · rm sonch (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ang hāliġ (revered in a religion) · ang hālæġ (revered in a religion) · grc ἱερός (dedicated to a religious purpose) · hid xubáa (dedicated to a religious purpose) · id suci (flawless) · ky ыйык (dedicated to a religious purpose) · cs svatý (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ru свяще́нный (dedicated to a religious purpose) · ca sagrat (separated from or set apart) · esu tanqilria (dedicated to a religious purpose) · es santo (dedicated to a religious purpose) · uk свяще́нний (dedicated to a religious purpose)