profane

[pruh-feyn, proh-]

adjective

1. characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious.

   Synonyms: ungodly, impious, sacrilegious, blasphemous
   Antonyms: sacred

2. not devoted to holy or religious purposes; unconsecrated; secular (sacred ).

   Synonyms: temporal
   Antonyms: spiritual

3. unholy; heathen; pagan.

   profane rites.

   Synonyms: unhallowed
   Antonyms: holy

4. not initiated into religious rites or mysteries, as persons.

5. common or vulgar.

   Synonyms: base, mean, low

verb (used with object)

profaned, profaning 

1. to misuse (anything that should be held in reverence or respect); employ basely or unworthily; defile; debase.

2. to treat (anything sacred) with irreverence or contempt; violate the sanctity of.

   to profane a shrine.

   Synonyms: desecrate

profane

/ ˌprɒfəˈneɪʃən, -trɪ, prəˈfænətərɪ, prəˈfeɪn /

adjective

1. having or indicating contempt, irreverence, or disrespect for a divinity or something sacred

2. not designed or used for religious purposes; secular

3. not initiated into the inner mysteries or sacred rites

4. vulgar, coarse, or blasphemous

   profane language

verb

1. to treat or use (something sacred) with irreverence

2. to put to an unworthy or improper use

Other Word Forms

• profanely adverb
• profaneness noun
• profaner noun
• half-profane adjective
• nonprofane adjective
• nonprofanely adverb
• nonprofaneness noun
• semiprofane adjective
• semiprofanely adverb
• semiprofaneness noun
• unprofane adjective
• unprofanely adverb
• unprofaneness noun
• unprofaned adjective
• profanatory adjective
• profanation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of profane¹

1350–1400; (adj.) < Latin profānus literally, before (outside of ) the temple; replacing Middle English prophane < Medieval Latin prophānus desecrated ( pro- ¹, fane ); (v.) < Latin profānāre, derivative of profānus; replacing Middle English prophanen < Medieval Latin prophānāre to desecrate

Word History and Origins

Origin of profane¹

C15: from Latin profānus outside the temple, from _pro- ¹ + fānum temple

Example Sentences

On the stunning “Berghain,” a baffling line about a fire in the brain that feels like a teddy bear sits alongside a profane utterance in English by singer Yves Tumor.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They helped to distract outsiders from the truly profane event: the growing misalignment of interests between the people who trafficked in financial risk and the wider culture.

Read more on Literature

The artist initially intended to create five matching versions of his toilet, which he titled “America” as a way to question which spaces in a museum get deemed sacred versus profane.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

What distinguished “The Black Phone” was its shocking approach to violence with its young characters, who all sported entertainingly profane potty mouths.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The show is vulgar, profane, provocative, taunting, violent and extreme, while at the same time being an exquisitely timed comedy with something like heart, a sentimentalism that isn’t completely ironic.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abusive 
• blasphemous 
• coarse 
• indecent 
• irreverent 
• nasty 
• obscene 
• sacrilegious 
• vulgar