Asylum

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈsaɪlÉ™m/

Origin

From Latin asylum.

Full definition of asylum

Noun

1. A place of safety.
2. The protection, physical and legal, afforded by such a place.
3. A place of protection or restraint for one or more classes of the disadvantaged, especially the mentally ill.
• 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 5, Of all the queer collections of humans outside of a crazy asylum, it seemed to me this sanitarium was the cup winner. … When you're well enough off so's you don't have to fret about anything but your heft or your diseases you begin to get queer, I suppose.

Synonyms

• sanctuary
• shelter

Derived terms

• insane asylum
• mental asylum
• orphan asylum
• asylum seeker