holy city: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, literary, religious discourse; occasionally journalistic or figurative.
Quick answer
What does “holy city” mean?
A city considered sacred and of central importance to a particular religion, often the site of major historical religious events, key temples, or pilgrimage destinations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A city considered sacred and of central importance to a particular religion, often the site of major historical religious events, key temples, or pilgrimage destinations.
Any place or community regarded as being spiritually significant, morally pure, or ideologically central to a particular group or belief system. It can also be used ironically or metaphorically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. British English may have slightly more frequent historical/literary use due to Anglican and Commonwealth contexts. American English may use it more in journalistic reports.
Connotations
Strong religious and historical connotations in both. In secular figurative use, it can carry a tone of reverence or, conversely, gentle irony.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation for both, but roughly equivalent. Appears more in religious, historical, travel, and geopolitical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “holy city” in a Sentence
the holy city of [Place Name][Place Name], a holy city for [Religion]regard/treat/view [Place Name] as a holy cityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “holy city” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - not used as a verb
American English
- N/A - not used as a verb
adverb
British English
- N/A - not used as an adverb
American English
- N/A - not used as an adverb
adjective
British English
- N/A - it is a noun phrase. Can be used attributively: 'a holy-city pilgrimage', 'holy-city status'.
American English
- N/A - it is a noun phrase. Can be used attributively: 'holy-city tour', 'holy-city map'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in tourism/travel sector marketing (e.g., 'packages to the holy cities').
Academic
Common in religious studies, history, anthropology, and geography papers.
Everyday
Low frequency. Used when discussing religion, travel plans, or news about conflicts in such places.
Technical
Used in theological and geopolitical discourse with precise referents (e.g., status of Jerusalem).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “holy city”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “holy city”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “holy city”
- Capitalising 'holy city' when used figuratively (e.g., 'For cyclists, Portland is a holy city' - no caps). Using it as a countable noun without an article (e.g., 'She visited holy city' -> 'She visited *the* holy city' or 'a holy city').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. Its core meaning is religious. However, it can be extended metaphorically to describe a place of supreme importance to any group (e.g., 'Hollywood is the holy city of cinema').
When referring to a specific, known holy city (e.g., Jerusalem, Mecca), you use 'the Holy City' (often capitalised). When speaking generically about one among many, use 'a holy city'.
Major examples include Jerusalem (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), Mecca and Medina (Islam), Varanasi and Ayodhya (Hinduism), Vatican City (Roman Catholicism), and Amritsar (Sikhism).
Yes, if it gains central religious significance. For example, Salt Lake City is a holy city for Mormons (LDS Church). The term is not limited to ancient cities.
A city considered sacred and of central importance to a particular religion, often the site of major historical religious events, key temples, or pilgrimage destinations.
Holy city is usually formal, literary, religious discourse; occasionally journalistic or figurative. in register.
Holy city: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhəʊli ˈsɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhoʊli ˈsɪti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A holy city for [figurative: enthusiasts] (e.g., 'The festival turned the town into a holy city for jazz lovers.')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of HOLY (sacred) + CITY (large town). Picture a city with golden domes or spires where people travel on a spiritual journey.
Conceptual Metaphor
CENTRE/HEART IS HOLY (The holy city is the heart of the faith). PURITY IS HEIGHT/ELEVATION (Holy cities are often on hills, e.g., Zion, Vatican Hill).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'holy city' most likely to be capitalised?