secular

Q: Are 'secular' and 'atheist' synonyms?

Although they may often come up in similar contexts, secular and atheist are not synonyms. Secular is most often used as an adjective (although is is also a noun), while atheist is mostly found as a noun ( atheistic and atheistical are the common adjective forms). Additionally, atheist means "a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods," whereas secular has a number of meanings, including "not overtly or specifically religious," "not bound by monastic vows or rules," and "occurring once in an age or a century."

Q: Is 'secular' always related to religion?

"In contemporary English, secular is primarily used to distinguish something (such as an attitude, belief, or position) that is not specifically religious or sectarian in nature (for example, music with no religious connection or affiliation might be described as ""secular""). However, certain meanings of secular do have some basis in religion, such as ""not bound by monastic vows or rules,"" and ""of, relating to, or forming clergy not belonging to a religious order or congregation."""

Q: Can 'secular' be a noun?

Secular does have some meanings as a noun, including "an ecclesiastic (such as a diocesan priest) not bound by monastic vows or rules; a member of the secular clergy." However, the word meaning "indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations" is secularism rather than secular .

adjective

Save Word

sec·u·lar | \ ˈse-kyə-lər

Definition of secular

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : of or relating to the worldly or temporal secular concerns

b : not overtly or specifically religious secular music

c : not ecclesiastical or clerical secular courts secular landowners

2 : not bound by monastic vows or rules specifically : of, relating to, or forming clergy not belonging to a religious order or congregation a secular priest

3a : occurring once in an age or a century

b : existing or continuing through ages or centuries

c : of or relating to a long term of indefinite duration secular inflation

secular

noun

sec·u·lar | \ ˈse-kyə-lər

plural seculars or secular

Definition of secular (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an ecclesiastic (such as a diocesan priest) not bound by monastic vows or rules : a member of the secular clergy

2 : layman

Other Words from secular Synonyms & Antonyms Frequently Asked Questions About secular More Example Sentences Learn More about secular

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Frequently Asked Questions About secular

Are secular and atheist synonyms?

Although they may often come up in similar contexts, secular and atheist are not synonyms. Secular is most often used as an adjective (although is is also a noun), while atheist is mostly found as a noun (atheistic and atheistical are the common adjective forms). Additionally, atheist means "a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods," whereas secular has a number of meanings, including "not overtly or specifically religious," "not bound by monastic vows or rules," and "occurring once in an age or a century."

Is secular always related to religion?

"In contemporary English, secular is primarily used to distinguish something (such as an attitude, belief, or position) that is not specifically religious or sectarian in nature (for example, music with no religious connection or affiliation might be described as ""secular""). However, certain meanings of secular do have some basis in religion, such as ""not bound by monastic vows or rules,"" and ""of, relating to, or forming clergy not belonging to a religious order or congregation."" "

Can secular be a noun?

Secular does have some meanings as a noun, including "an ecclesiastic (such as a diocesan priest) not bound by monastic vows or rules; a member of the secular clergy." However, the word meaning "indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations" is secularism rather than secular.

Examples of secular in a Sentence

Adjective Bloomberg, by contrast, would be the most pro-immigration, pro-free trade, pro-Wall Street candidate in the race. The third-party candidate he would most resemble is John Anderson, the fiscally responsible, culturally liberal Republican who ran as an Independent in 1980. Anderson won 7% of the vote, mostly among the young, educated and secular. But today those people are partisan Democrats. — Peter Beinart, Time, 11 Feb. 2008 In the early twentieth century, priests and religious built centers for Catholic study and worship on secular campuses. — Maurice Timothy Reidy, Commonweal, 7 Apr. 2006 Some women, indeed, achieved great renown for their religious scholarship, becoming role models for their peers and silently challenging men, who for so long had held a monopoly in this area. Though they never carried the title of "rabbi" and in many cases eschewed the controversial "f-word" (feminism) altogether, these Orthodox women produced no less a revolution in the late twentieth century than women did in so many other realms, religious and secular alike. By challenging Judaism, they ended up strengthening Judaism. — Jonathan D. Sarna, American Judaism, 2004 The reforms of the nineteenth century and the needs of commercial and other contacts with Europe led to the enactment of new laws, modeled on those of Europe—commercial, civil, criminal, and finally constitutional. In the traditional order the only lawyers were the ulema, the doctors of the Holy Law, at once jurists and theologians. The secular lawyer, pleading in courts administering secular law, represented a new and influential element in society. — Bernard Lewis, What Went Wrong?, 2002 Both secular and religious institutions can apply for the funds. that's an issue for the secular authorities, not the church

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective In a series of essays and images, author McMillan and photographer King-Sun capture the sights of San Antonio at Christmastime, both secular and spiritual. — Jim Kiest, ExpressNews.com, "Critic’s picks: The best coffee table books for Christmas gifts this year feature David Bowie, Dolly Parton, Disney, San Antonio at Christmas and more," 2 Dec. 2020 The decades before World War II contained lively, sometimes fierce, debates between secular and observant Jews; members of Sephardic and Ashkenazic communities; Zionists, socialists, and capitalists. — Sara Lipton, The New York Review of Books, "Life, Death, and the Levys," 17 Nov. 2020 The case in front of the justices concerns how Philadelphia partners with private organizations – both religious and secular – to find homes for children in foster care. — Mark Satta, The Conversation, "Amy Coney Barrett sizes up 30-year-old precedent balancing religious freedom with rule of law," 13 Nov. 2020 Some were secular in search of cultural fellowship, while others were more religiously observant and cared about living in a space conducive to observing Shabbat and keeping kosher. — Rachelle Stein-wotten, sun-sentinel.com, "A Jewish cohousing movement is on the rise, but challenges beyond COVID remain," 18 Nov. 2020 The occupancy restrictions for churches also applied to similar secular gatherings like movie theaters, concerts, and sporting events. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "Samuel Alito Is Tired of Winning," 13 Nov. 2020 Unlike a religious holiday that has to be observed on a specific date, Thanksgiving is secular. — Philip Klein, Washington Examiner, "Instead of canceling Thanksgiving, how about delaying it?," 12 Nov. 2020 The effort Tuesday was perhaps a showing of how religious sisters’ faith fits into the secular world, by Dobrovolny’s telling. — Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, "'Sacred is the vote': Nuns and faith leaders seek to defend metro Detroit voters," 3 Nov. 2020 French authorities closed a mosque outside Paris and banned a handful of Muslim organizations deemed at odds with secular values. — Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, "Islamic Governments Condone Radicals in France," 29 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The anti-Erdogan camp used to be composed of disparate groups, including Turkish and Kurdish nationalists, seculars and even some Islamists. — Soner Cagaptay, Time, "Four Things to Watch in Turkey's Elections," 21 June 2018 In the secular, bottom-line world Byrne inhabits, patience is in short supply and results are demanded. — Rainer Sabin, AL.com, "Greg Goff believes Alabama will be better in 2018," 18 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'secular.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.