sanctify

verb

sanc·​ti·​fy ˈsaŋ(k)-tə-ˌfī 

sanctified; sanctifying

transitive verb

1

: to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use : consecrate

2

: to free from sin : purify

3

a

: to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or respect to

b

: to give moral or social sanction to

4

: to make productive of holiness or piety

observe the day of the sabbath, to sanctify it

—Deuteronomy 5:12 (Douay Version)

Synonyms

• cleanse
• purge
• purify

Examples of sanctify in a Sentence

The priest sanctified their marriage.

The constitution sanctified the rights of the people.

Recent Examples on the Web

This also means the final act plays like a sanctifying highlights reel but the film’s gleeful humor and sharp wit largely keeps this chaotic rollercoaster on its tracks. —Leila Latif, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2024

Such saintly behavior aside, one part of Jack that was becoming less sanctified was his body. —Dan Koeppel, Outside Online, 5 Sep. 2019

Thursday, the party emerges, energized, unified, sanctified. —EW.com, 9 July 2024

How can power be fragmented to prevent any faction from dominating or oppressing a rival to sanctify liberty and the march of the mind? —Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English seintefien, sanctifien, from Anglo-French seintefier, sanctifier, from Late Latin sanctificare, from Latin sanctus sacred — more at saint

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sanctify

verb

sanc·​ti·​fy ˈsaŋ(k)-tə-ˌfī 

sanctified; sanctifying

1

: to set apart as sacred

2

: to make free from sin

sanctification

ˌsaŋ(k)-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən

noun