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Meaning & use

holy relic

noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˌhəʊli ˈrelɪk/
US/ˌhoʊli ˈrelɪk/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablereligion

    An object believed to have belonged to a holy person or to be connected with a sacred event, kept and honored by believers.

    Grammar: Countable: one relic, two relics. Often used with 'a' or in the plural.

    Patterns

    • a holy relic of someone
    • a holy relic from somewhere
    • venerate a holy relic

    Pilgrims traveled long distances to see a holy relic kept in the cathedral.

    The museum displayed a holy relic said to have belonged to a medieval saint.

    According to tradition, the holy relic was carried through the streets during the festival.

  2. nouncountablefigurative

    Something from the past that is greatly respected and carefully preserved.

    Grammar: Used figuratively, often for old objects or traditions that people treat with special respect.

    Patterns

    • a holy relic of something
    • treat something as a holy relic

    The old printing press is treated as a holy relic of the town's industrial past.

    For fans of the band, the original guitar is a holy relic.

Word forms

pluralholy relics

Common combinations

venerate a holy relic
Believers venerate the holy relic with prayers and candles.
a holy relic of a saint
The church claims to hold a holy relic of Saint Andrew.
a holy relic from the Holy Land
They brought back a holy relic from the Holy Land.
display a holy relic
The monastery displays the holy relic only on special feast days.

Synonyms and how they differ

relic
A more general word that can also mean an old object or a surviving custom; 'holy relic' makes the religious meaning explicit.
sacred object
A broader term for anything considered holy, not necessarily connected to a person or event.

Word family

relic noun
An object or custom surviving from the past, often with religious associations.
relics noun
Plural form, often used for remains or belongings of a holy person.

Commonly confused: holy relic or relict?

holy relic vs relict

A rare word for a surviving thing or a widow; it looks similar but is not used for religious objects.

Practice

The cathedral is famous for a ______ said to have belonged to a local saint.

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