Synonyms of secular

secular 1 of 2

adjective

ˈse-kyə-lər 

as in temporal

not involving religion or religious matters

that's an issue for the secular authorities, not the church

Synonyms & Similar Words

• temporal
• nonreligious
• physical
• profane
• pagan
• atheistic
• irreligious
• godless
• nondenominational
• nonsectarian
• mundane
• corporal
• earthly
• religionless
• worldly
• lay
• terrestrial
• nonclerical
• laical
• blasphemous
• bodily
• irreverent
• substantial
• paganish
• impious
• sacrilegious
• carnal
• material
• unconsecrated
• terrene
• unhallowed
• fleshly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• religious
• spiritual
• sacred
• divine
• holy
• pious
• devout
• sacrosanct
• godly
• metaphysical
• consecrated
• reverent
• hallowed
• prayerful
• worshipful
• insubstantial
• ethereal
• immaterial
• churchly
• sanctified
• unsubstantial
• nonphysical
• incorporeal
• bodiless

secular

2 of 2

noun

as in layman

Related Words

• layman
• layperson
• lay reader
• lector

Dissimilar Words

• priest
• clerical
• preacher
• ecclesiastic
• minister
• cleric
• divine
• reverend
• clerk
• deacon
• clergyman
• dominie
• father
• churchman
• clergyperson
• padre
• priestess
• Holy Joe
• deaconess
• clergywoman

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of secular

Adjective

Before the building is sold or used for secular purposes, church officials take great care when removing the religious items inside, said Jacob Preciado, director of asset management for the archdiocese. — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Rome — Pope Leo XIV has submitted a mail-in ballot for the US midterms, becoming the first pope to vote in a US election and likely the first to vote in a secular democratic election. — Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026

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

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