secularism

noun

sec·​u·​lar·​ism ˈse-kyə-lə-ˌri-zəm How to pronounce secularism (audio)
: indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations
secularist noun
secularist adjective
or less commonly secularistic

Examples of secularism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That may be in part because France is proud of its commitment to secularism. Karla Adam, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 In the process, secularism has been redefined as the suppression of public expressions of other faiths, while Hinduism has increasingly been displayed as the religion of the state. Hari Kumar Atul Loke, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2024 The rationale is budgetary, but Benzion, despite his secularism, exploits the irony of the occasion to try out the kind of end-times ethnonationalism that will soon drive Religious Zionism and the settler movement. Blum, for his part, has done his best to leave seminarian attachments behind. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024 This is how a member of the clergy was elected to run a major French city: In France, secularism is a constitutional principle, but Kir was a special case. Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 30 Dec. 2023 At the time, reliably conservative Benedict XVI was pope, but Busch was alarmed by the drift toward secularism in America, even among his Catholic friends. Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2023 Attal cited the core French principle of secularism in the public space. Annabelle Timsit, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2024 Six teenagers are currently on trial in Paris for allegedly inciting the murder after Paty showed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in class during a discussion on secularism and freedom of expression. Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 4 Dec. 2023 In response, the woman said that was not true and that certain people are trying to promote secularism and prostitution in society. Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 14 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'secularism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of secularism was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near secularism

Cite this Entry

“Secularism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secularism. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

secularism

noun
sec·​u·​lar·​ism ˈsek-yə-lə-ˌriz-əm How to pronounce secularism (audio)
: the belief that religion and religious considerations should be ignored
secularist noun
secularist adjective
also secularistic
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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