What does asylum mean?
Word: Asylum
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Asylum means protection that a country gives to someone who has left their own country because they were in danger there. It can also mean any safe place of shelter.
Synonyms: shelter, sanctuary, protection
How do you spell asylum?
Syllables: a - sy - lum
Tricky part: The eye sound in the middle is spelt with a y, not an i.
Watch out for: asilum, aselum
Memory tip: Shy, sky and asylum all use a y for the eye sound: picture a shy bird finding asylum in the sky.
Asylum in a sentence
Example 1: The writer was given asylum in France after it became unsafe for him to stay in his own country.
Example 2: For the frightened stray dog, our garage became a warm asylum from the storm.
Example 3: Some temples in ancient Greece offered asylum to anyone who reached their altar.
Fun Fact
Asylum comes from the Greek asulon, 'a place that cannot be raided': a- meant 'not', and the rest of the word meant 'the right to seize'.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Probe
Choose the meaning of the misspelt word in the given sentence:
The young scientist applied for asylam so that she could stay and keep working safely in her new country.
a) to ask formally for something, often in writing
b) a nation with its own land and government
c) a person who studies science
d) protection given by a country to someone in danger at home
Show answer
d) protection given by a country to someone in danger at home. The ending of asylam is wrong; asylum, ending in -lum, is the protection she applied for.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
123456 lyumas
a) 562143
b) 526134
c) 652134
d) 562134
Show answer
d) 562134. Take places 5 and 6, then 2, 1, 3 and 4, and the letters form asylum.
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) symptom
b) pyramid
c) assylum
d) cylinder
Show answer
c) assylum. Asylum has a single s after the opening a.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. asylum 2. hazard 3. summit a. peak b. refuge c. danger
a) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
b) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
Show answer
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a. Asylum is a refuge, a hazard is a danger, and the summit of a hill is its peak.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A family granted asylum in a new country can ___.
a) never leave the airport
b) visit just once a year
c) stay only for a holiday
d) begin a settled life there
Show answer
d) begin a settled life there
2. In 'The quiet library was an asylum from the noisy street', asylum means ___.
a) a quiet escape
b) a noisy crowd
c) a busy crossing
d) a reading test
Show answer
a) a quiet escape
