Secular
adjective /ˈsɛk.jʊ.lər/ — Not connected with religious or spiritual matters; of the world.
Definition
Not connected with religious or spiritual matters; relating to the non-religious aspects of society. Secular government is government that does not derive its authority from religion and does not favour any particular faith.
Beyond the definition
Secular does not mean anti-religious — it means neutral on the question of religion in public life. The secular space is the shared space, where people of different faiths and none can all participate.
Origin & history
Latin: 'saecularis' (worldly, of an age). From 'saeculum' (generation, age, the world). In medieval Christian thought, the 'secular' was what belonged to this world as opposed to the eternal.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The constitution established a secular state, with complete separation between religion and government.
She was secular in her approach to ethics — drawing on reason and consequence rather than divine command.
The secular universities were founded specifically to provide education outside Church control.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Secular” when the meaning fits your context: Not connected with religious or spiritual matters; relating to the non-religious aspects of society. Secular government is government that does not derive its authority from religion and does not favour any particular faith.
Synonyms
non-religious, worldly, temporal, lay
Antonyms
religious, sacred, clerical, theocratic
Related words
Secular vs profane
Secular describes the absence of religious influence in worldly affairs. Profane often implies a lack of respect for sacred things or is the direct opposite of holy.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Clinician Examining Patient
An unnamed clinician listens to a patient’s chest with a stethoscope in a quiet room with models.
The clinical and observational setting represents a secular space, where authority is derived from systematic, evidence-based, and non-religious inquiry into the human body.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Secular" mean?
Secular is adjective meaning: Not connected with religious or spiritual matters; of the world.. Not connected with religious or spiritual matters; relating to the non-religious aspects of society. Secular government is government that does not derive its authority from religion and does not favour any particular faith.
Where does the word "Secular" come from?
Latin: 'saecularis' (worldly, of an age). From 'saeculum' (generation, age, the world). In medieval Christian thought, the 'secular' was what belonged to this world as opposed to the eternal.