holy

UK: /ˈhəʊli/ US: /ˈhoʊli/ ,(hō′lē)

Inflections of 'holy' (adj):

holier

adj comparative

holiest

adj superlative

Inflections of 'holy' (n): npl: holies

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

ho•ly /ˈhoʊli/   adj., -li•er, -li•est. 

1. Religion recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority;
   consecrated:
   holy ground.
2. Religion saintly;
   pious;
   devout:
   a holy nun.
3. [usually: before a noun] causing fear, awe, or distress:
   He's a holy terror when he's angry.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ho•ly  (hō′lē), adj., -li•er, -li•est, n., pl. -lies. 
adj. 

1. Religion specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority;
   consecrated:
   holy ground.
2. Religion dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion:
   a holy man.
3. Religion saintly;
   godly;
   pious;
   devout:
   a holy life.
4. Religion having a spiritually pure quality:
   a holy love.
5. Religion entitled to worship or veneration as or as if sacred:
   a holy relic.
6. Religion religious:
   holy rites.
7. inspiring fear, awe, or grave distress:
   The director, when angry, is a holy terror.

n. 

8. Religion a place of worship;
   sacred place;
   sanctuary.

• bef. 900; Middle English holi, Old English hālig, variant of hāleg, equivalent. to hāl whole + -eg -y¹; cognate with Dutch, German heilig, Old Norse heilagr

Synonyms

• 1. blessed.
  Holy, sacred, consecrated, hallowed imply possession of a sanctity that is the object of religious veneration.
  Holy refers to the divine, that which has its sanctity directly from God or is connected with Him:
  Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
  Something that is sacred, while sometimes accepted as entitled to religious veneration, may have its sanctity from human authority:
  a sacred oath.
  Something that is consecrated is specially or formally dedicated to some religious use:
  a life consecrated to service.
  Something that is hallowed has been made holy by being worshiped:
  a hallowed shrine.
• 4. spiritual.

Antonyms

• 3, 4. corrupt, impious.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

holy / ˈhəʊlɪ/ adjective (holier, holiest)

1. of, relating to, or associated with God or a deity; sacred
2. endowed or invested with extreme purity or sublimity
3. devout, godly, or virtuous
4. holier-than-thou ⇒ offensively sanctimonious or self-righteous

noun ( -lies)

1. the holy ⇒ a sacred place

Etymology: Old English hālig, hǣlig; related to Old Saxon hēlag, Gothic hailags, German heilig; see hallow