asylum

Universal Words noun 1 (also formal political asylum) [U] protection that a government gives to people who have left their own country, usually because they were in danger for political reasons: to seek / apply for / be granted asylum * the rights of asylum seekers (= people asking for political asylum) * There was a nationwide debate on whether the asylum laws should be changed. 2 [C] (old use) a hospital where people who were mentally ill could be cared for, often for a long time