Sanctuary vs. Asylum — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 14, 2023
Sanctuary refers to a safe place or refuge, often religious, while asylum is a form of protection granted by a state to someone who has left their home country as a political refugee. Both imply safety but differ in scope and legal standing.
Difference Between Sanctuary and Asylum
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sanctuary generally refers to a place of safety or refuge, and can be a physical location, such as a church or a wildlife preserve, or more metaphorical, as in a sanctuary of the mind. Asylum, on the other hand, is often a legal designation, providing protection to individuals who have fled their home countries for reasons such as persecution. Both terms imply a form of safety but are used in different contexts.
In religious contexts, a sanctuary is often considered a sacred or holy place. Asylum, although it can have religious roots, is typically more secular and pertains to international law. Both offer protection but the protection offered by a sanctuary is often informal, while asylum carries formal legal standing.
The term "sanctuary" can also be used more broadly to describe a place that offers protection for animals or even historical items. Asylum, conversely, is specifically geared towards offering protection to human beings who are at risk due to political, religious, or other forms of persecution. While sanctuary can refer to a variety of refuges, asylum is human-centric.
Sanctuary cities in the U.S. are cities that limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Asylum is a more formalized process that involves legal procedures and is recognized internationally. Both sanctuary cities and asylum offer a form of protection to immigrants, but they operate under different laws and principles.
Comparison Chart
Meaning
A place of safety or refuge
Legal protection for refugees
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Scope
Broad, including religious and secular
Specific to human rights
Legal Status
Often informal
Formal legal process
Subject
Can apply to people, animals, objects
Human-centric
Geographic Context
Local or national
Often international
Compare with Definitions
Sanctuary
Place of Safety
The church served as a sanctuary for the homeless.
Asylum
Formal Procedure
Gaining asylum involves a complicated legal process.
Sanctuary
Animal Protection
The wildlife sanctuary is home to endangered species.
Asylum
Human Rights
Asylum is an essential part of international human rights law.
Sanctuary
Mental Refuge
For her, gardening is a sanctuary from stress.
Asylum
Legal Protection
She was granted asylum due to political persecution.
Sanctuary
Religious Refuge
The temple is considered a sanctuary.
Asylum
Refugee Status
He applied for asylum after fleeing his home country.
Sanctuary
A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety.
Asylum
Political Safety
The embassy offered him asylum.
Sanctuary
A sacred place, such as a church, temple, or mosque.
Asylum
Protection and immunity from extradition granted by a government to a political refugee from another country.
Sanctuary
The holiest part of a sacred place, as the part of a Christian church around the altar.
Asylum
A place offering protection and safety; a shelter.
Sanctuary
A sacred place, such as a church, in which fugitives formerly were immune to arrest.
Asylum
Protection or shelter; refuge
Viewed her friend's apartment as a place of asylum.
Sanctuary
Immunity to arrest afforded by a sanctuary
Sought sanctuary in the church.
Asylum
A place, such as a church, formerly constituting an inviolable refuge for criminals or debtors.
Sanctuary
The condition of being protected or comforted
"Women such as herself tended to ... seek sanctuary in religion" (Paul Scott).
Asylum
An institution for the care of people, especially those with physical or mental disabilities, who require organized supervision or assistance.
Sanctuary
A place of refuge or asylum.
Asylum
A place of safety or refuge.
Sanctuary
A reserved area in which birds and other animals, especially wild animals, are protected from hunting or disturbance.
Asylum
The protection, physical and legal, afforded by such a place (as, for example, for political refugees).
Sanctuary
A place of safety, refuge, or protection.
My car is a sanctuary, where none can disturb me except for people who cut me off.
Asylum
(dated) A place of protection or restraint for one or more classes of the disadvantaged, especially the mentally ill.
Sanctuary
An area set aside for protection.
The bird sanctuary has strict restrictions on visitors so the birds aren't disturbed.
Asylum
A sanctuary or place of refuge and protection, where criminals and debtors found shelter, and from which they could not be forcibly taken without sacrilege.
So sacred was the church to some, that it had the right of an asylum or sanctuary.
Sanctuary
A state of being protected, asylum.
The government granted sanctuary to the defector, protecting him from his former government.
Asylum
Any place of retreat and security.
Earth has no other asylum for them than its own cold bosom.
Sanctuary
The consecrated (or sacred) area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.
Asylum
An institution for the protection or relief of some class of destitute, unfortunate, or afflicted persons; as, an asylum for the aged, for the blind, or for the insane; a lunatic asylum; an orphan asylum.
Sanctuary
A sacred place; a consecrated spot; a holy and inviolable site.
These laws, whoever made them, bestowed on temples the privilege of sanctuary.
The admirable works of painting were made fuel for the fire; but some relics of it took sanctuary under ground, and escaped the common destiny.
Asylum
A shelter from danger or hardship
Sanctuary
A consecrated place where sacred objects are kept
Asylum
A hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person
Sanctuary
A shelter from danger or hardship
Sanctuary
Area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir; often enclosed by a lattice or railing
Sanctuary
Legal Harbor
Sanctuary cities offer some protections for undocumented immigrants.
Common Curiosities
What does Asylum mean?
Legal protection granted to someone fleeing persecution.
Is Asylum a legal status?
Yes, it's often a formal legal designation.
Is Sanctuary religious?
It can be, but the term has broader uses as well.
What does Sanctuary mean?
A place or condition of safety or refuge.
What are Sanctuary cities?
Cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Is a home a Sanctuary?
It can be, if it serves as a place of safety or refuge.
Who can apply for Asylum?
Individuals fleeing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, etc.
Can Sanctuary apply to animals?
Yes, as in the case of wildlife sanctuaries.
Can Asylum be revoked?
Yes, if conditions in the home country change or fraud is discovered.
How do you apply for Asylum?
Through a legal process, often involving an application and interviews.
Is Sanctuary always a physical space?
No, it can also be a state of mind or condition.
Can a Sanctuary be temporary?
Yes, it can offer temporary relief or safety.
Is Asylum permanent?
It can lead to permanent residency but isn't automatically so.
Who grants Asylum?
Typically, a government or authorized agency.
Is Asylum international?
Often, as it usually involves crossing borders for safety reasons.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
