secular meaning

secular as an adjective

1. of or relating to the doctrine that rejects religion and religious considerations

   Related forms: secularism

2. characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world
   • worldly goods and advancement
   • temporal possessions of the church

   Synonyms: worldly, temporal

   Similar: economic, material, materialistic, mundane

3. not concerned with or devoted to religion
   • sacred and profane music
   • secular drama
   • secular architecture
   • children being brought up in an entirely profane environment

   Synonyms: profane

   Similar: laic, profanatory

4. of or relating to clergy not bound by monastic vows
   • the secular clergy

   Opposite: religious

5. characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy
   • set his collar in laic rather than clerical position
   • the lay ministry

   Synonyms: laic, lay

   Similar: profane

secular as a noun

1. someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person

   Synonyms: layman, layperson

   Type of: commoner

   Kinds: lay reader

How to pronounce secular

secular is pronounced /ˈsɛkjʊlə/ in British English and /ˈsɛkjəlɚ/ in American English. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.

Words that rhyme with secular

• molecular
• intermolecular