sanctify

UK: /ˈsæŋktɪfaɪ/ US: /ˈsæŋktəˌfaɪ/ ,(sangk′tə fī′)

Inflections of 'sanctify' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

sanctifies

v 3rd person singular

sanctifying

v pres p

sanctified

v past

sanctified

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sanc•ti•fy /ˈsæŋktəˌfaɪ/   v. [~ + object] , -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. Religion to make holy; bless or consecrate:
   to sanctify a new church.

sanc•ti•fi•ca•tion /ˌsæŋktəfɪˈkeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -sanct-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sanc•ti•fy  (sangk′tə fī′), v.t., -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. Religion to make holy;
   set apart as sacred;
   consecrate.
2. Religion to purify or free from sin:
   Sanctify your hearts.
3. Religion to impart religious sanction to;
   render legitimate or binding:
   to sanctify a vow.
4. to entitle to reverence or respect.
5. Religion to make productive of or conducive to spiritual blessing.

• Latin, as above
• Old French saintifier
• Late Latin sānctificāre (see Sanctus, -ify); replacing Middle English seintefien
• 1350–1400

sanc′ti•fi′a•ble, adj. 
sanc′ti•fi′a•ble•ness, n. 
sanc′ti•fi′a•bly, adv. 
sanc′ti•fi′ca′tion, n. 
sanc′ti•fi′er, n. 
sanc′ti•fy′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. bless, hallow, anoint, enshrine, exalt.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sanctify / ˈsæŋktɪˌfaɪ/ verb ( -fies, -fying, -fied)(transitive)

1. to make holy
2. to free from sin; purify
3. to sanction (an action or practice) as religiously binding: to sanctify a marriage
4. to declare or render (something) productive of or conductive to holiness, blessing, or grace
5. to authorize to be revered

Etymology: 14th Century: from Late Latin sanctificāre, from Latin sanctus holy + facere to make

ˌsanctifiˈcation noun

ˈsanctiˌfier noun