Asylum means protection and safety given to someone who has fled danger in their home country. When a person seeks asylum, they're asking another country to let them stay because returning home would put them in serious danger due to war, persecution, or violence.

In ancient times, temples offered asylum, meaning soldiers couldn't arrest someone who had reached the temple's protection. Today, countries offer asylum to people fleeing persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinions, or membership in a particular group.

The asylum process involves proving you face real danger at home. Someone granted asylum gets legal permission to live and work in their new country and is protected under international law. Many people who've received asylum go on to become citizens and contribute greatly to their adopted countries. Albert Einstein, for example, sought asylum in the United States when the Nazis came to power in Germany.

The word can also refer to an old-fashioned term for a hospital treating mental illness, though this usage is now considered outdated and offensive. In older books, you might see references to an “insane asylum,” but today we say “psychiatric hospital” or “mental health facility” instead.