nonsectarian
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of nonsectarian
Explanation
You can describe something as nonsectarian if it's not connected or affiliated with any particular religious or political belief. A college is nonsectarian if it isn't associated with a religion or church, and a Sunday school class that teaches all religions is also nonsectarian. Something that's sectarian follows the rules of a particular group or sect, and it's the Latin word secta that's at the root of both sectarian and nonsectarian. The literal meaning of secta is "a way or a road," and its figurative meaning is "a following, school of thought, or religious group."
Vocabulary lists containing nonsectarian
100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Cosmos
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What about universities that are nonsectarian but have values deeply connected to a particular religious community?
From Slate ● May 22, 2025
Initially women-driven, the nonsectarian center took root in Catholicism long before 1924.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 11, 2024
“It’s not an easy needle to thread, to be a nonsectarian institution, clearly founded by people with evangelical principles and worldviews.”
From Washington Times ● Dec. 4, 2023
Thus, in 1913, the Jewish Consumptive Relief Assn. founded and funded two tent-cottages on 10 sunny acres in Duarte as a free and nonsectarian sanitarium.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2022
Subsequently the Georgia commission to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition donated the entire furnishings of the State building to the Georgia Industrial Home at Macon, Ga., the only nonsectarian orphanage in the State.
From Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission by Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
