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secular - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'secular' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Secular [ a.]
- Coming or observed once in an age or a century.
- Pertaining to an age, or the progress of ages, or to a long period of time; accomplished in a long progress of time; as, secular inequality; the secular refrigeration of the globe.
- Of or pertaining to this present world, or to things not spiritual or holy; relating to temporal as distinguished from eternal interests; not immediately or primarily respecting the soul, but the body; worldly.
- Not regular; not bound by monastic vows or rules; not confined to a monastery, or subject to the rules of a religious community; as, a secular priest.
- Belonging to the laity; lay; not clerical.
2 . Secular [ n.]
- A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules.
- A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir.
- A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman.

Meaning of 'secular' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . secular [ a]
Meaning (1):
- not concerned with or devoted to religion
Example in sentence:
  • children being brought up in an entirely profane environment;
  • sacred and profane music;
  • secular architecture;
  • secular drama
Meaning (2):
- characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world
Example in sentence:
  • temporal possessions of the church;
  • worldly goods and advancement
Meaning (3):
- of or relating to clergy not bound by monastic vows
Example in sentence:
  • the secular clergy
4 . secular [ s]
Meaning (4):
- characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy
Example in sentence:
  • set his collar in laic rather than clerical position;
  • the lay ministry

Nearby Words:

secale secancy secant secco secede seceded seceder seceding secern secerned

See 'secular' also in:

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Related Definitions

  • Secular
    Secular is the pertaining to beliefs that are temporal or “of this world” rather than spiritual in nature.
  • Secularization
    Secularization is the process of decline in the social influence of religion.

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