Agency Dictionary

Secular

adjectivePronunciation: /ˈsɛk.jʊ.lər/

In Portuguese: Secular

What does “Secular” mean?

Denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis; worldly rather than sacred.

Etymology

From Latin saecularis (of an age, belonging to this world), from saeculum (an age, generation, century; the world, worldly affairs). The word distinguished what belongs to this world and time from what belongs to the sacred or the eternal. In church history, secular clergy lived in the world rather than in monasteries.

Usage note

Secular can describe people, institutions, and processes. It contrasts with religious or clerical.

Synonyms

worldly
temporal
lay

Word family

secularism
secularist
secularize
secularization

Usage examples

Secularism: By challenging the authority of the Church and traditional religious institutions, it helped create a more secular society based on rational inquiry and critical thinking.

Concept

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment was an intellectual and cultural movement of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that championed reason, individualism, and empirical science. It…

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Issue.10 - NumbersMarch 28, 2023Read the edition

Words of the same theme

Rebirthnoun: A new beginning after a period of decline or destruction, used in mythology to describe the cyclical return to life after death. In Archetype.0, rebirth is the defining characteristic of both the Bennu and the Phoenix.
Synchronicitynoun: The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
Self-immolationnoun: The deliberate destruction of oneself, typically by fire. In Archetype.0, self-immolation is the voluntary act by which the phoenix builds a nest of fragrant spices and woods, ignites itself and is consumed by the flames.
Stigmanoun: A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
Immortalitynoun: The quality of being immune to permanent death, living or enduring beyond a single lifespan. In Archetype.0, immortality is one of the five semiotic attributes of the Phoenix: the flames are not an end but a transition, an essential phase of its immortal existence.
collective consciousnessnoun: The set of beliefs, ideas and feelings shared by the members of a society, which exists beyond any single person. By extension, what a community knows and repeats in common.
Mjolnirnoun: In Norse mythology, the hammer of the god Thor, forged by dwarfs and known for its short handle. It is the weapon with which he defends gods and humans.
Agapenoun: A selfless, unconditional, and altruistic form of love often associated in theology with divine charity.
Agoranoun: A public open space in ancient Greek cities used for assemblies, commercial markets, and philosophical dialogue.
Alchemistnoun: A practitioner of alchemy, seeking to transmute base metals into noble elements and discover a universal cure.
Allegiancenoun: Loyalty, commitment, or devoted obligation felt by an individual toward a nation, cause, sovereign, or athletic club. It creates emotional cohesion and enduring solidarity across social communities.
Androgynenoun: A mythical primordial being uniting male and female characteristics in a single unified body.

Also from these editions: terms

Desolationnoun: A state of complete emptiness, loneliness, or destruction; deep sorrow caused by abandonment or acute loss.
Discernmentnoun: The ability to judge well, perceive keen distinctions, and grasp obscure psychological or practical truths.
Dogmaticadjective: Characterized by the expression of opinions strongly and as if they were unquestionable facts without proper evidential backing.
Empiricistnoun: A person who supports the theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience. In practice, an empiricist insists on tangible observation and verifiable testing before accepting a claim.
Hemlocknoun: A highly poisonous biennial herbaceous plant of the parsley family with small white flowers, historically used as a method of state execution in classical Greece.
metamodernadjective: Relating to a cultural paradigm that oscillates between modern sincerity and postmodern irony.
Obsoleteadjective: No longer produced or used; out of date because a newer, more efficient replacement has emerged.
Rationalistnoun: A person who bases their opinions and actions on reason and logic rather than on religious belief or emotional response. In philosophy, a rationalist maintains that knowledge is primarily innate and deduced.
Skepticnoun: A person inclined to question, doubt, or suspend judgment regarding accepted opinions, claims, or apparent facts until verifiable proof is presented.
Superficialitynoun: The quality of lacking depth of character, serious thought, or profound substance, remaining confined to outward appearances.
Inertianoun: The tendency of an object to remain at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force, or a state of sluggish inaction in organizations.