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secular

SEK-yoo-ler /ˈsɛkjʊlər/

adjectiveB2GRESATTOEFLUPSC

generalformal

Denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis.

Relates to worldly or civil matters rather than sacred ones; does not automatically imply hostility toward religion.

The story behind the word. From Latin 'saecularis', originating from 'saeculum' meaning 'a period of a hundred years' or 'the current age'. In medieval Latin, 'secular clergy' were priests living in the ordinary world among the people, as opposed to 'regular clergy' living under monastic vows.

Word relationships

temporal: 'Temporal' emphasizes time and physical reality over eternity.
lay: 'Lay' refers to non-clergy members within or outside an institution.

sacred: Sacred means dedicated to or associated with a divine purpose.
religious: Relating to or believing in a religion.

Commonly confused with

sectarian: Sectarian means rigidly bound to a religious sect; secular means separate from religious doctrine altogether.

Word family

secularism (noun): The principle of separation of state and religious institutions.
secularize (verb): To transfer from religious to civil control.

Collocations

secular state
secular education
secular society
secular music

Example sentences

"The constitution guarantees a secular government where state and church remain separate." Constitutional law
"Renaissance composers produced both sacred liturgical music and secular songs for court life." Music history

Memory hook

SECULAR concerns this SECONDS-long lifetime on Earth, not eternal life. Saeculum = of this present age.

When not to use

Do not confuse with anti-religious or atheistic; a secular institution is simply non-religious in its function.

Fun facts

In medieval Europe, 'secular clergy' simply meant priests who lived out in town rather than inside a secluded monastery!