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Definition of holy adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

holy

adjective
 
 
/ˈhəʊli/
 
/ˈhəʊli/
(comparative holier, superlative holiest)
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  1.  
     [usually before noun] connected with God or a particular religion
    • the Holy Bible
    • holy books/scriptures
    • the holy city of Mecca
    • Islam’s holiest shrine
    • a holy day/month
    • a holy war (= one fought to defend the beliefs of a particular religion)
    • holy ground
    opposite unholy
    Extra Examples
    • For a believer, these words have an almost holy significance.
    • The sacred desert site is the object of holy pilgrimage.
    • The place is considered holy by the people who live there.
    • He sprinkled her with holy water.
    • He searched holy books, read the poets and studied human behaviour.
    Topics Religion and festivalsb2
  2.  
     good in a moral and religious way
    • a holy life/man
    opposite unholy
    Extra Examples
    • He tries to live a holy life.
    • They are good and holy people.
    Topics Personal qualitiesb2, Religion and festivalsb2
  3. [only before noun] (informal) used to emphasize that you are surprised, afraid, etc.
    • Holy cow! What was that?
    4. see also holier-than-thou, holiness
    Word OriginOld English hālig, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German heilig, also to whole.
See holy in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee holy in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: holy

Nearby words

generic
adjective
 
 
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