secularism
Americannoun
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secular spirit or tendency, especially a system of political or social philosophy that rejects all forms of religious faith and worship.
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the view that public education and other matters of civil policy should be conducted without the introduction of a religious element.
noun
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philosophy a doctrine that rejects religion, esp in ethics
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the attitude that religion should have no place in civil affairs
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the state of being secular
Other Word Forms
- secularist noun
- secularistic adjective
Etymology
Origin of secularism
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.
"Their issue has never truly been secularism," said Erdogan.
From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026
“This rise in popularity correlates with increasing secularism and nationalism.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026
The court said the judgement "was not about secularism in the education system" and made clear that "no one is suggesting that RE should not be provided in schools in Northern Ireland".
From BBC • Nov. 19, 2025
The mandate was popularized by theologian Francis Schaeffer, who linked it to a larger critique of secularism and liberal culture.
From Salon • Jul. 11, 2025
I enrolled in every course I could squeeze into my schedule, from German idealism to the history of secularism to ethics and law.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
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.
