asylum

4 definitions • 4 examples

protection or safety, especially that given by a government to people who have been forced to leave their own countries for their safety or because of war:

to seek/apply for political asylum

a hospital for people with mental illnesses:

a lunatic asylum

protection or safety, or a protected and safe place, given esp. to someone who has left a country or place for political reasons:

The refugees have asked for political asylum.

a mental hospital, or any other institution giving shelter and other help to poor or suffering people:

He was committed to an insane asylum in 1899.