Word
secular
Phoneticssec·u·lar, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɛkjəɫɝ/
UK/sˈɛkjʊlɐ/
Definitions
01non-religious
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not connected with religious or spiritual matters.
adj. denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis; distinct from the clergy.
“The country has a secular government that does not favour any specific religion.”
“In many modern democracies, the separation of church and state ensures that secular law remains independent of theological doctrine.”
02long-term
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
adj. happening or changing very slowly over a long period of time.
adj. of or relating to long-term trends or fluctuations that are not periodic; persisting over centuries or ages.
Español:secular
“Scientists are studying the secular cooling of the planet over millions of years.”
“The secular variation in the Earth's magnetic field is a gradual process that requires centuries of data to map accurately.”
Usage
In technical contexts, this adjective usually precedes the noun it modifies.
Antonyms
03ancient
C2 · Proficiency Literary
adj. existing for many centuries.
adj. having existed for ages or centuries; ancient in origin.
“The secular oaks had stood in the forest since before the kingdom was founded.”
“The poet reflected on the secular traditions of the valley, which had remained unchanged despite the rise and fall of numerous empires.”
Synonyms
04a non-religious person
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Religion Formal
n. someone who is not a member of the clergy or a religious order.
n. a person who is not bound by monastic vows or clerical rules; a layman.
“The council was made up of both high-ranking priests and respected seculars.”
“The historical document distinguishes between the rights of the monastic orders and those of the seculars living within the city walls.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “secular” in context.
Verb
01. remain secular
“The government fought hard to ensure that the judicial system would remain secular.”
verb + adj
Adjective
02. secular and religious
“The festival features a blend of secular and religious music to appeal to the entire community.”
adj + and + adj
03. strictly secular
“The school maintains a strictly secular curriculum to ensure inclusivity for students of all backgrounds.”
adv + adj
Noun
04. secular society
“In a secular society, public policy is determined by democratic debate rather than theological doctrine.”
adj + noun
05. secular stagnation
“The country faced a period of secular stagnation, characterized by persistent low growth and high savings.”
adj + noun
06. secular state
“The constitution defines the nation as a secular state that guarantees freedom of worship for all.”
adj + noun
07. secular trend
“Economists are analyzing the secular trend of declining interest rates over the last three decades.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“She considered herself secular, and so the couple joined the Worker’s Circle , a nonreligious Ashkenazi institution rather than a synagogue.” “For example, one fragment comes from a dramatic poem called L'Estoire de Griseldis, a secular play thought to have been written by Philippe de Mézières around 1395.” Etymology
From Middle English seculer, from Old French seculer, from Latin saeculāris (“of the age”), from saeculum.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/secular
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0