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asylum

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noun British English pronunciation: asylum /əˈsaɪləm/ 
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singularasylum
pluralasylums

Related dictionary definitions

  1. 1
    [uncountable] the right to stay in a country, given by a government to protect someone who has escaped from war or political trouble in their own country
    seek asylum:

    More than half a million people sought asylum in Europe last year.

    political asylum:

    The number of refugees seeking political asylum has risen recently.

    grant someone asylum:

    Of the 1,000 refugees that initially came here, only 50 were granted asylum.

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