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Definition of holy

holy

/ˈhoʊ.li/
ho · ly
Adverb:holily
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holy Lexical Profile

holy Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred and worthy of deep veneration.

Example

"Pilgrims traveled from across the continent to visit the ancient holy temple."

2

Morally and spiritually excellent; devout, pious, or saintly in character and conduct.

Example

"The monastery was founded by a holy hermit known for his compassion and humility."

3

Used in exclamations to express strong surprise, alarm, or dismay.

Example

"Holy smoke, I completely forgot that our presentation is due this morning!"

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse with the homophones 'wholly' (meaning completely or entirely) and 'holey' (meaning full of holes).

• Rhymes for holy

• Nearby Words

holographic
holstein
holster
holy
holy see
homage
hombre

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'halig', derived from Proto-Germanic '*hailagaz', which is closely related to the root of 'whole' (meaning uninjured, sound, or complete).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Holy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/holy
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