What does holy mean?
Holy is an adjective meaning connected with God, the sacred, or spiritual purity. It is often used for religious places, objects, ceremonies, and texts, as in “a holy site” or “the Holy Spirit,” and it can describe a person as exceptionally virtuous or devoted. The word may also carry a broader sense of something so valued that it seems sacred, although this use is often more rhetorical than literal. In informal speech, “Holy!” functions as an exclamation of surprise, annoyance, or amazement. In British and American English, holy is pronounced with a long “o,” and its religious and figurative uses are broadly similar across both varieties. Its long history and strong associations with religion, sanctity, and moral purity make it an important word for describing both explicitly sacred things and the way communities elevate ordinary objects, places, or ideals.
adjectiveDedicated to God or sacred in nature; spiritually pure. It can also describe something revered as exceptionally important or morally exemplary.
- Dedicated to God, divine, or sacred.
- Spiritually pure or devoted to religious observance.
- Characterized by exceptional virtue or moral excellence.
- Used as an exclamation expressing surprise, annoyance, or shock.
"The ancient manuscript was treated as a holy relic by the community."
"The valley is considered holy by followers of several different religions."
"Holy cow! I did not expect the train to be delayed this long."
From “whole” in spirit rather than in sound, holy originally conveyed wholeness and divine grace before it came to mean sacred.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does holy come from?
Holy comes from Old English hālig, originally meaning “with divine grace” or “holy,” and ultimately from a Germanic root associated with wholeness, health, and well-being. The religious sense developed and strengthened through the influence of Christianity. The related word hallow reflects the same older language and means to make or regard something as holy, while hallowed is now especially common in formal or literary phrases.
Related word forms
How holy is actually used
The adjective is common in religious and ceremonial contexts. “Holy” can sound formal or archaic in descriptions of places, objects, and practices, while the exclamation “Holy!” is informal and may express surprise, annoyance, or admiration.
Easily confused with holy
Holy is an adjective meaning sacred or spiritually pure, whereas holly is a noun naming an evergreen shrub or the plant used for decoration.
Holy is pronounced with a long o and means sacred, while holey is pronounced with two syllables and means full of holes.