sec·u·lar
ˈse-kyə-lər 
1
a
: of or relating to the physical world and not the spiritual world
secular concerns
b
: not overtly or specifically religious
But the [gospel] song was a hit across the board, and received airplay on secular radio stations as well.—
Brooklyn White
Brooklyn WhiteWe weren't allowed to go to movies, listen to secular music, or watch TV.—Aaron Hartzler
Aaron Hartzler
c
: of or relating to the government rather than the church
secular courts
secular landowners
d
: organized around impersonal and utilitarian values and patterns and not receptive to new traits
a modern industrialized secular society
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
3
a
: 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
A secular increase in the quantity of money is required in a growing economy …—Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman
plural seculars or secular
1
: an ecclesiastic (such as a diocesan priest) not bound by monastic vows or rules : a member of the secular clergy
2
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
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
Michelle Fox, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Most other units have been affected by secular pressures on theatrical moviegoing and linear TV viewing.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2023
His selection of works, for example, mixed the sacred with the secular, interspersing chorale preludes (which use Lutheran hymns as their point of departure) with the six trio sonatas for organ.
—Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for secular
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Adjective
The firm cited lower pricing power and weak secular trends for the call.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Most other units have been affected by secular pressures on theatrical moviegoing and linear TV viewing.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
There was a change of heart among the secular nationalists during the second intifada—which started in 2000 and ended in 2005—in which seculars also joined forces.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2023
His selection of works, for example, mixed the sacred with the secular, interspersing chorale preludes (which use Lutheran hymns as their point of departure) with the six trio sonatas for organ.
—Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for secular
Cite this Entry
“Secular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secular. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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