secular
SEHK-yuu-luh
Secular (adj) means not connected to religion; concerned with worldly rather than spiritual matters. Example: “The school teaches a secular curriculum, with no prayers or religious lessons.”
adj
1
Not connected to religion; concerned with worldly rather than spiritual matters.
"The school teaches a secular curriculum, with no prayers or religious lessons."
"The country has a secular constitution that separates church and state."
"She attended a secular university rather than a religious one."
2
Of a member of the clergy: living among ordinary people rather than under monastic vows.
"Unlike a monk, a secular priest lives and works within the local community."
"The bishop sent a secular clergyman to run the town church."
"Secular priests serve local parishes rather than living in a monastery."
How to use secular
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNon-religious — dealing with everyday, worldly life rather than church or faith.
Common mistake
Secular does not mean anti-religious; it simply means separate from religious authority or concerns.
Common pairings
secular society
secular state
secular education
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Word forms
- Plural
- seculars
- Comparative
- more secular
- Superlative
- most secular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The school teaches a _____ curriculum, with no prayers or religious lessons.
Etymology
From Latin saecularis, "of an age or generation," from saeculum ("age, generation"). The Church originally used it to mean "of this present world," as opposed to eternal or spiritual matters.
Synonyms
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lay
areligious
civil
earthly
irreligious
laicist
laicistic
mundane
nonreligious
profane
temporal
unconsecrated
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for secular
See all rhymes for secular →Frequently asked questions
What does “secular” mean?
The word “secular” means not connected to religion; concerned with worldly rather than spiritual matters. In plain terms, non-religious — dealing with everyday, worldly life rather than church or faith.
How do you pronounce “secular”?
“Secular” is pronounced SEHK-yuu-luh (/ˈsɛkjələɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “secular” in a sentence?
Here is “secular” used in a sentence: “The country has a secular constitution that separates church and state.”
What is another word for “secular”?
Words with a similar meaning to “secular” include areligious, civil, earthly, irreligious, laicist and laicistic.
What is the opposite of “secular”?
The opposite of “secular” — its antonyms — are eternal, everlasting, frequent, unpredictable and non-recurring.
What part of speech is “secular”?
“Secular” is an adjective.
Where does the word “secular” come from?
The word “secular” comes from Latin. From Latin saecularis, "of an age or generation," from saeculum ("age, generation"). The Church originally used it to mean "of this present world," as opposed to eternal or spiritual matters.
Is “secular” a common word?
“Secular” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
What is the difference between "secular" and "atheist"?
"Secular" describes something not connected to religion or kept separate from it, such as a secular school or government, while "atheist" describes a person who does not believe in any god. A secular institution can include religious people; it simply does not base its actions on religion.
What is the difference between "secular" and "religious"?
"Secular" and "religious" are opposites: "secular" concerns worldly matters and stays separate from faith, while "religious" relates directly to religion, belief, and worship. A wedding, for example, can be either secular, meaning civil, or religious, meaning held in a place of worship.
What is a "secular" priest?
In a church context, a "secular" priest is one who lives and works among ordinary people in the community rather than withdrawing into a monastery under monastic vows. This contrasts with "regular" clergy, such as monks, who live under the rule of a religious order.
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