asylum
uh-SY-lum
/əˈsaɪləm/
Protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee.
Implies safe refuge from persecution, political danger, or war back home.
The story behind the word. Derived from Greek 'asylon', formed from 'a-' (not) + 'syle' (right of seizure). An 'asylon' was literally a place free from seizure, where refugees were safe from capture.
Word relationships
- refuge: Refuge is general safety or shelter; asylum is formal legal sanctuary granted by a state.
- sanctuary: Sanctuary often carries historical or religious connotations of protection inside sacred spaces.
- deportation: Forcible removal from a host state back to origin nation.
Commonly confused with
- sanctuary: Sanctuary can mean physical shelter anywhere; asylum is formal legal refugee status granted by a sovereign government.
Word family
- asylums (noun): Plural of asylum.
Collocations
- seek asylum
- grant asylum
- asylum seeker
- political asylum
Example sentences
- "Thousands of dissidents crossed the border to seek political asylum in the neighboring country." Refugee rights
- "Under international human rights treaties, granting asylum is an act of international solidarity." Humanitarian law
Memory hook
In an ASYLUM, you are SAFE from SEIZURE. A-SYLUM = Not subject to seizure.
When not to use
Avoid historical mental health context (e.g. 'insane asylum') as it is outdated and insensitive.
Fun facts
- Diplomatic asylum can occur inside foreign embassies, as famously seen when Julian Assange stayed in Ecuador's London embassy.
Related words
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