holy water

noun

: water blessed by a priest and used as a purifying sacramental

Examples of holy water in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Farrell spread a white silk veil over the late pope’s face and sprinkled the body with holy water, according to an order of service released by the Vatican press office earlier this week. Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025 The cat put its two front paws on the edge of the holy water dish, bent its head and started slurping up the water as fast as possible. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025 Throngs of devotees take a dip in the holy waters in the belief that doing so will purge them of sins and grant them salvation. Atul Loke, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2025 Three people in Germany and four in the UK fell ill with cholera after directly drinking or splashing their faces with the holy water. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for holy water

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of holy water was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Holy water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holy%20water. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

holy water

noun
: water blessed by a priest and used to purify

More from Merriam-Webster on holy water

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