secularism

1 of 3

noun (1)

sec·​u·​lar·​ism ˈse-kyə-lə-ˌri-zəm 

: indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations

secularist

ˈse-kyə-lə-rist 

noun

secularist adjective

or less commonly secularistic

ˌse-kyə-lə-ˈri-stik 

secularist

2 of 3

noun (2)

sec·​u·​lar·​ist -rə̇st 

plural -s

: one who advocates secularism

the overemphasis by secularists on the scientific

—J. L. Teller

secularist

3 of 3

adjective

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variants or secularistic

¦⸗⸗⸗¦ristik 

-tēk

: of, relating to, or advocating secularism

every philosophy of life is either religious or secularist

—Walter Moberly

the secularist basis of humanism

that we not transfer our loyalties to hidden secularist presuppositions

—J. A. Pike

Examples of secularism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This is especially the case within the context of French secularism, or laïcité, wherein public expressions of religiosity might have made people upset. — Bhakti Mamtora, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026

But the choice was criticized by supporters of France’s strict form of secularism in public life based on a 1905 law separating church and state. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

French officials and many educators say secularism in public schools and other institutions protects less observant and nonreligious people from pressure while leaving everyone free to worship in private. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Some are ideologues such as Bannon and Beattie, people who believe that Western civilization is being destroyed by racial diversity, secularism, and the commitment to human rights. — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1851, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for secularism

• activism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism
• calvinism

Kids Definition

secularism

noun

sec·​u·​lar·​ism ˈsek-yə-lə-ˌriz-əm 

: the belief that religion and religious considerations should be ignored

secularist

-rəst 

noun

secularist adjective

also secularistic

ˌsek-yə-lə-ˈris-tik