Holy City

noun

, (sometimes lowercase)

1. a city regarded as particularly sacred by the adherents of a religious faith, as Jerusalem by Jews and Christians, Mecca and Medina by Muslims, and Varanasi by Hindus.
2. heaven.

Holy City

noun

1. Jerusalem, esp when regarded as the focal point of the religions of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam
2. Christianity heaven regarded as the perfect counterpart of Jerusalem
3. any city regarded as especially sacred by a particular religion

Word History and Origins

Origin of Holy City¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

Embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed holy city of Jerusalem and recognition of Israeli control of the Golan Heights, seized from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War.

From Los Angeles Times

After a short spell in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf to attend a Shia seminary he rejoined Amal in Lebanon before he and others split from the group in 1982, shortly after Israel invaded Lebanon in response to attacks by Palestinian militants.

From BBC

The pilgrims were on their way to Iraq's holy city of Karbala to commemorate one of the biggest events in the Shia calendar.

From BBC

Their bodies were then taken to the holy city of Qom and to Tehran before the funeral.

From New York Times

The bodies of Mr. Raisi and of the others killed were then taken to the holy city of Qom and to Tehran, the capital, ahead of Wednesday’s events.

From New York Times