sanctification

noun

ˌsaŋ(k)-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce sanctification (audio)
Definition of sanctificationnext
1
as in consecration
the act of making something holy through religious ritual the sacred site required another sanctification after it had been defiled by the invaders

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2
as in purification
the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt the Christian belief that the suffering and death of Jesus was responsible for the sanctification of all humankind

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sanctification But if her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life. — Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024 After Fuqua does interesting work sowing seeds of folly amid the star’s glorious rise, the movie gives up and turns to total sanctification. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026 The result is that liberal analysts prefer the sanctification of allies and the demonization of rivals to objective and informed analysis. — Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 This sanctification was a crucial step in including medicine as its own advanced degree program at the first universities that were established around 1200 in Europe. — Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023 This sanctification was a crucial step in including medicine as its own advanced degree program at the first universities that were established around 1200 in Europe. — Meg Leja, The Conversation, 2 Nov. 2023 The sanctification of Lee and other Confederate leaders, in turn, pushed the complexities of the surrender and of the Civil War era into the shadows, allowing the myth of Appomattox to flourish for more than a century. — Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctification
  1. consecration
  2. purification
  3. salvation
  4. cleansing
Noun
  • The Vatican’s doctrine office went above and beyond the minimum sanctions foreseen by the church’s canon law to respond to the consecrations Wednesday of four new bishops at the society’s Econe, Switzerland, seminary.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
  • The latest consecrations could prompt Pope Leo to end the Vatican's decades of dialogue with the breakaway society.
    — Noah LaBelle, NPR, 2 July 2026
Definition of consecration
Noun
  • Potential applications include purifying pyrolysis oil produced from waste plastics, recovering industrial solvents used in battery manufacturing, pharmaceutical purification, and biofuel production.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026
  • Temazcal is a traditional sweat lodge used for physical and spiritual purification.
    — Emma Hall June 23, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of purification
Noun
  • In the wake of around 400 layoffs at Bungie, the storied studio is looking for salvation.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • An understanding of the all-encompassing law of Spirit, operating in our lives now, brings salvation, bountiful joy, and a deeper understanding of our wholeness as sons and daughters of God.
    — Alistair Budd, Christian Science Monitor, 24 June 2026
Definition of salvation
Noun
  • An everything shower is a comprehensive bathing ritual that bundles regular cleansing with extras like exfoliating, shaving, hair masking and scalp treatments into a single session.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026
  • After cleansing, use Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion to gently exfoliate, which comes in five varieties for skin types from sensitive to very dry, oily, and everything in between.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
Definition of cleansing

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sanatoriums
sanctification
sanctifications
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Cite this Entry

“Sanctification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctification. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sanctification

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sanctification

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