Definition of ASYLUM

asylum

Plural: asyla, asylums

Noun

  • An institution offering shelter and support; a sanctuary.
  • a shelter from danger or hardship
  • a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person
  • A place of safety or refuge.
  • The protection, physical and legal, afforded by such a place (as, for example, for political refugees).
  • A place of protection or restraint for one or more classes of the disadvantaged, especially the mentally ill.

Examples

  • Down by 50 points, he sought asylum on a triple-word score with his last play.

Origin / Etymology

From Latin asylum, from Ancient Greek ἄσυλον (ásulon).

Synonyms

insane asylum, institution, mental home, mental hospital, mental institution, psychiatric hospital, refuge, sanctuary, shelter

Scrabble Score: 11

asylum: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
asylum: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
asylum: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

asylum: valid Words With Friends Word