English adjective: secular | |||
1. | secular of or relating to the doctrine that rejects religion and religious considerations | ||
2. | secular characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world | ||
Samples | Worldly goods and advancement. Temporal possessions of the church. | ||
Synonyms | temporal, worldly | ||
Similar | economic, material, materialistic, mercenary, mundane, terrestrial, worldly-minded | ||
See also | earthly, profane, secular, sophisticated | ||
Antonyms | unworldly | ||
3. | secular not concerned with or devoted to religion | ||
Samples | Sacred and profane music. Secular drama. Secular architecture. Children being brought up in an entirely profane environment. | ||
Synonyms | profane | ||
Similar | laic, lay, profanatory, secular | ||
See also | earthly, impious, secular, temporal, worldly | ||
Antonyms | sacred | ||
4. | secular of or relating to clergy not bound by monastic vows | ||
Samples | The secular clergy. | ||
Antonyms | religious | ||
5. | secular characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy | ||
Samples | Set his collar in laic rather than clerical position. The lay ministry. | ||
Synonyms | laic, lay | ||
Similar | profane, secular | ||
Antonyms | sacred | ||
English noun: secular | |||
1. | secular (person) someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person | ||
Synonyms | layman, layperson | ||
Broader (hypernym) | common man, common person, commoner | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | lay reader | ||
Member meronym | laity, temporalty | ||
Antonyms | clergyman, man of the cloth, reverend | ||