separation of church and state

noun phrase

: the act or state of keeping government and religion separate from each other

Examples of separation of church and state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Arguments in the latest battle over the separation of church and state will be heard Tuesday in a Louisiana federal courtroom where a law requiring that the Ten Commandments be displayed at public schools is being challenged on constitutional grounds. —Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 20 Jan. 2026

In 2022, the Supreme Court largely abandoned the three-part Lemon Test, used to determine whether a law or governmental action violated the separation of church and state clause in the Constitution. —Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Jan. 2026

The initiative has already been criticized for treating the separation of church and state as more of a suggestion rather than a rule. —Tara Palmeri, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026

The Establishment Clause is what the courts have long interpreted to mean the separation of church and state. —Cate Charron, IndyStar, 30 Dec. 2025

Rhymes for separation of church and state

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Legal Definition

separation of church and state

: the separation of religion and government mandated under the establishment clause and the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution that forbids governmental establishment or preference of a religion and that preserves religious freedom from governmental intrusion