secularize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “secularize” mean?
to separate something (especially an institution or activity) from religious or spiritual control, influence, or connection.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to separate something (especially an institution or activity) from religious or spiritual control, influence, or connection.
To make something worldly, non-religious, or more widely accessible by removing its specifically religious character or affiliation. Can also mean to transfer property from ecclesiastical to civil possession.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term identically. UK English may have more historical context (e.g., dissolution of monasteries). US English often relates to constitutional 'separation of church and state'.
Connotations
Neutral in academic discourse. Can be perceived as positive (progress, freedom) or negative (loss of tradition, moral decline) depending on viewpoint.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; higher in academic/specialist texts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “secularize” in a Sentence
[Subject: government/state/group] secularize [Object: institution/society/system]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “secularize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government's act sought to secularize the education system, removing compulsory worship.
- After the Reformation, many monastic lands were secularized and sold.
American English
- Activists pushed to secularize the public square, arguing for the removal of religious monuments from government land.
- The trend to secularize holiday celebrations is often debated.
adverb
British English
- [No standard form 'secularizedly'; use phrases like 'in a secularized manner']
American English
- [No standard form 'secularizedly'; use phrases like 'in a secularized manner']
adjective
British English
- The secularized version of the ceremony omitted all prayers.
- He lived in a highly secularised society.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts of taking over religiously affiliated hospitals/schools.
Academic
Common in sociology, history, political science to describe societal shifts.
Everyday
Very rare; the concept is discussed using simpler phrasing (e.g., 'make it non-religious').
Technical
Used in law (property transfer), sociology (secularization theory), and education policy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “secularize”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “secularize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “secularize”
- Incorrect: 'They secularized the church into a museum.' (Better: 'They deconsecrated the church...'). Using it intransitively: 'Society secularized.' (Acceptable but less common; prefer 'underwent secularization').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a neutral, descriptive term in academic contexts. Its positive or negative connotation depends entirely on the speaker's perspective on religion's role in society.
'Secularize' is broader, applying to institutions, systems, and societies. 'Deconsecrate' is specific to a sacred building or object, meaning to remove its religious sanctity formally.
Not typically. The object is usually an institution (school, state), activity (education, law), or space. One speaks of a person 'becoming secular' or 'losing their faith'.
The process is 'secularization'. A person who advocates for it is a 'secularist'. The resulting state is 'secularism'.
to separate something (especially an institution or activity) from religious or spiritual control, influence, or connection.
Secularize is usually formal, academic in register.
Secularize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛkjʊləˌraɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛkjələˌraɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this verb]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SECULAR' + 'IZE'. A 'secular' (non-religious) calendar has no religious holidays. To SECULARIZE is to make something follow that calendar—free from religious control.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEPARATION (of church and state). PURIFICATION (removing religious elements to create a 'pure' civil sphere).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'secularize'?