profane
C1formal
Definition
Meaning
relating to or showing disrespect for sacred things; not religious or spiritual.
to treat something sacred with disrespect or irreverence; also, language or behavior that is vulgar, obscene, or coarse.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has two primary senses: 1) an adjective describing something non‑sacred or disrespectful toward the sacred; 2) a verb meaning to violate or treat something sacred with contempt. It often carries a moral or religious judgement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the word in religious, literary, and formal contexts.
Connotations
Slightly stronger religious connotation in the US due to higher visibility of religious discourse; in the UK it may be perceived as more literary or archaic.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties; more common in formal writing, religious discourse, or academic texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
profane + noun (e.g., profane the altar)verb + profane (e.g., consider something profane)profane + and + adjective (e.g., profane and vulgar)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “profane the Sabbath”
- “nothing sacred/profane (inversion for emphasis)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might appear in discussions of ethics or corporate values (e.g., 'profane the trust of stakeholders').
Academic
Common in religious studies, sociology, literature (e.g., 'the profane versus the sacred in Durkheim').
Everyday
Uncommon; used mainly for strong disapproval of disrespect toward religion or tradition.
Technical
Used in anthropology/sociology to denote the ordinary, non‑sacred realm (contrasted with 'sacred').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They were accused of profaning the ancient burial site.
- He would never profane a church with violent speech.
American English
- Vandals profaned the memorial with graffiti.
- To profane the flag is considered a deep offense.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Using profane language in school is not allowed.
- The film contains profane scenes.
- Many consider it profane to wear shoes inside the temple.
- His profane jokes offended the religious guests.
- Anthropologists study the distinction between the sacred and the profane.
- The invaders profaned the cathedral by turning it into a stable.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PROfane = PROfanity; both involve disrespect, especially in language.
Conceptual Metaphor
SACRED IS CLEAN / PROFANE IS DIRTY (e.g., 'profane the pure waters of faith').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'профан' (невежда). В английском 'profane' — это прежде всего 'кощунственный', 'нечестивый', а не 'неспециалист'.
- В русском 'профанация' означает искажение, опошление, что близко, но не полностью совпадает с английским значением.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'profane' as a noun to mean 'layperson' (archaic; modern use is almost exclusively adjective/verb).
- Confusing 'profane' with 'profanity' (the latter refers specifically to swear words).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is closest in meaning to 'profane' (adjective)?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but this sense is now archaic. In modern English, 'profane' almost always means 'showing disrespect for sacred things' or 'non‑religious'.
'Profane' specifically implies disrespect toward the sacred or religious, while 'obscene' refers to something offensive to morality or decency, often sexual in nature.
Yes, it is used primarily in formal, academic, or religious contexts. In everyday speech, people more often say 'disrespectful', 'rude', or 'swear words'.
Yes, e.g., 'to profane a grave' means to treat it with violent disrespect.