asylum
noun
asy·lum
| \ ə-ˈsī-ləm
\
\
Definition of asylum
1
: an inviolable place of refuge and protection giving shelter to criminals and debtors : sanctuary
3a
: the protection or security afforded by an asylum : refuge
b
: protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees by a nation or by an embassy or other agency enjoying freedom from what is required by law for most people
4
somewhat old-fashioned
: an institution providing care and protection to needy individuals (such as the infirm or destitute) and especially the mentally ill
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Examples of asylum in a Sentence
She asked for political asylum.
She was granted asylum after it was made clear that she would be killed if she returned to her native country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Giorgos Koumoutsakos, a minister in charge of migration policy, said 15 asylum-seekers whose applications had been rejected were to be sent back to Turkey from a nearby Greek island Friday, but gave no further details. — Washington Post, "The Latest: Greece resuming migrant deportations to Turkey," 23 Aug. 2019 In August, 2017, a group of Administration officials met at D.H.S. headquarters, in Washington, to devise a series of policies to restrict the number of asylum seekers entering the country. — Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, "The Trump Administration’s Sustained Attack on the Rights of Immigrant Children," 22 Aug. 2019 Miller has also advocated for more border agents to interview asylum seekers at the border. — Julia Ainsley, NBC News, "Letter shows U.S. asylum officers in Newark, Boston were reassigned to border cases," 22 Aug. 2019 Migration is another focus of the report, recommending that women refugees and asylum-seekers be registered separately from men, and granted separate residency, too. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Natural motivators for plastic bans," 22 Aug. 2019 The move is the latest effort by the administration to restrict immigration, President Donald Trump's signature issue, and is aimed at restricting the movement of asylum seekers in the country and deterring more migrants from crossing the border. — Colleen Long, chicagotribune.com, "Trump administration moves to end legal limits on child detention," 21 Aug. 2019 In recent months, the Trump administration has taken aggressive actions to restrict immigration, specifically targeting asylum seekers. — Erin Corbett, Fortune, "Trump Administration Moves to Allow Indefinite Detention Of Migrant Families. What Happens Next?," 21 Aug. 2019 The move is the latest effort by the administration to restrict immigration, President Donald Trump's signature issue, and is aimed at restricting the movement of asylum seekers in the country and deterring more migrants from crossing the border. — Anchorage Daily News, "Trump administration moves to end limits on detention of migrant children," 21 Aug. 2019 Kanders’s company, Safariland, manufactures tear gas canisters that have been used on asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. — Steven Litt, cleveland.com, "2019 Whitney Biennial filled with anxiety-ridden artworks that inspire empathy, indict the powerful," 18 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'asylum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for asylum
asylum
noun
English Language Learners Definition of asylum
: protection given by a government to someone who has left another country in order to escape being harmed
old-fashioned
: a hospital where people who are mentally ill are cared for especially for long periods of time : a mental hospital
See the full definition for asylum in the English Language Learners Dictionary
asylum
noun
asy·lum
| \ ə-ˈsī-ləm
\
\
Kids Definition of asylum
1
: a place of protection and shelter
They sought asylum from the storm.
2
: protection given especially to political refugees
3
: a place for the care of the poor or the physically or mentally ill
asylum
noun
asy·lum
| \ ə-ˈsī-ləm
\
\
Medical Definition of asylum
: an institution providing care and protection to needy individuals (such as the infirm or destitute) and especially the mentally ill
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asylum
noun
asy·lum
| \ ə-ˈsī-ləm
\
\
Legal Definition of asylum
: protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees by a nation or by an embassy or other agency that has diplomatic immunity
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