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Secularize: meaning, definitions and examples

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secularize

 

[ ˈsɛk.jʊ.lə.raɪz ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

religion, society

To secularize something means to remove its religious or spiritual significance and to treat it in a more worldly or non-religious manner. This process often involves adapting institutions, practices, or beliefs to a secular framework.

Synonyms

depopulate, disenfranchise, dissociate.

Examples of usage

  • The government decided to secularize educational institutions.
  • Many countries have worked to secularize their laws to ensure equal treatment.
  • The church faced pressure to secularize its role in public affairs.

Translations

Translations of the word "secularize" in other languages:

🇵🇹 secularizar

🇮🇳 धर्मनिरपेक्ष बनाना

🇩🇪 säkularisieren

🇮🇩 sekularisasi

🇺🇦 секуляризувати

🇵🇱 sekularyzować

🇯🇵 世俗化する

🇫🇷 séculariser

🇪🇸 secularizar

🇹🇷 sekülerleştirmek

🇰🇷 세속화하다

🇸🇦 علمانية

🇨🇿 sekularizovat

🇸🇰 sekularizovať

🇨🇳 世俗化

🇸🇮 sekularizirati

🇮🇸 veraldarhyggja

🇰🇿 сектантсыздандыру

🇬🇪 სეკულარიზაცია

🇦🇿 sekulyarizasiya

🇲🇽 secularizar

Etymology

The term 'secularize' originates from the Latin word 'saecularis', which means 'worldly' or 'temporal', derived from 'saeculum' referring to 'age' or 'generation'. The concept of secularization gained prominence during the Enlightenment when philosophical movements began to advocate for the separation of religion from public life. This shift emphasized reason and individualism over traditional authority, leading to the secularization of many institutions, especially in Western societies. The process continued throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, influencing various fields, including government, education, and culture, creating a landscape where religious influence in public and social domains became less prevalent.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,945, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.