a sacred place of pilgrimage
"Thousands of devotees journeyed to the holy cave in the mountains hoping for divine healing."
A thing that is extremely holy; used almost exclusively in Holy of Holies.
"The High Priest entered the inner sanctuary to tend the flames within the Holy of Holies, a space reserved for nothing less than the most sacred presence."
In plain English: A holy person is someone who is deeply respected for their strong moral character and spiritual beliefs.
"The holy is often discussed in philosophy as a concept separate from the secular world."
Usage: Use the word holy only as an adjective to describe sacred people or things, never as a standalone noun. The specific noun form referring to the innermost sanctuary of a temple is always Holy of Holies.
belonging to or derived from or associated with a divine power
"The pilgrims traveled to the holy site, believing it was blessed by divine power."
Dedicated to a religious purpose or a god.
"The pilgrims gathered in great reverence at the Holy Land to witness the miraculous events described in scripture."
Alternative letter-case form of holy used when referring to an important figure, such as God, or to an important item or event.
In plain English: Holy means something is extremely sacred and worthy of deep respect because it is connected to God.
"Many people feel that this is a holy place where they can find peace."
Usage: Use "holy" as an adjective to describe things sacred to a religion or morally pure, rather than simply emphasizing importance. It is incorrect to use it merely to label significant figures or events unless they are explicitly connected to religious sanctity.
The word holy comes from Old English, where it originally meant "healthy" or "whole." Its deeper roots connect to the idea of being unharmed or complete, which is why it evolved to describe things that are sacred or consecrated.