laicize
Low (rare/formal)Formal, academic, historical, religious discourse
Definition
Meaning
To make something secular; to remove clerical control or religious character.
To transfer something from religious to civil control; to make something lay in nature.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in religious, historical, or sociological contexts. Often implies an intentional, official process.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and spelling identical. Both use '-ize' spelling; UK alternative '-ise' ('laicise') is also valid but less common for this specific term.
Connotations
Neutral descriptive term in formal contexts. Can have negative connotations for religious groups when describing loss of authority.
Frequency
Very rare in both dialects. Slightly more likely to appear in British texts due to historical church-state discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Government/State] laicized [institution] (e.g., The state laicized the hospital system).[Process/Reform] laicizes (e.g., The new law laicizes education).To laicize something.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific; term is itself technical.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in history, political science, sociology of religion, and religious studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare; unknown to most general speakers.
Technical
Used in specific religious and legal discussions about church-state separation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The 1905 law in France sought to laicize public education completely.
- Historians debate the intent to laicize certain medieval charities.
American English
- The court ruling effectively laicized the administration of the charity.
- Some advocated to laicize the ceremony by removing all religious references.
adverb
British English
- The institution was run laicizingly, focusing on universal ethics.
- (Extremely rare usage)
American English
- (Extremely rare; 'secularly' is strongly preferred.)
adjective
British English
- The laicizing process met with fierce opposition.
- A laicized priest returned to his former profession.
American English
- The laicizing legislation passed by a narrow margin.
- He lived a laicized life after leaving the monastery.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The new government wanted to laicize the schools.
- The revolutionary government's policy was to laicize all state institutions, removing religious influence.
- The constitutional reform aimed not merely to separate church and state but to actively laicize public life, a move that provoked sustained controversy among traditionalists.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'LAIcize' makes something 'LAY' (non-clerical).
Conceptual Metaphor
RELIGIOUS IS REMOVABLE (A property or control can be stripped away).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'лизинг' (leasing) due to phonetic similarity. The correct conceptual equivalent is 'секуляризовать'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'legalize'.
- Using in inappropriate informal contexts.
- Misspelling as 'layicize'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'laicize'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very close synonyms. 'Secularize' is more common and broader. 'Laicize' can imply a more specific removal of clerical control.
Yes, in a religious context, especially in Catholicism, a cleric can be laicized—returned to the lay state, often losing clerical rights and obligations.
Almost exclusively in formal writing or discussion about history, politics of religion, or sociology.
Laicization (or laicisation in UK alternative spelling).