[sanc.tu.ary] n, pl -ar.ies [ME sanctuarie, fr. MF sainctuarie, fr. LL sanctuarium, fr. L sanctus] (14c) 1: a consecrated place: as a: the ancient Hebrew temple at Jerusalem or its holy of holies b (1): the most sacred part of a religious building (as the part of a Christian church in which the altar is placed) (2): the room in which general worship services are held (3): a place (as a church or a temple) for worship
2. a (1): a place of refuge and protection (2): a refuge for wildlife where predators are controlled and hunting is illegal b: the immunity from law attached to a sanctuary