secularize

[ sek-yuh-luh-rahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, sec·u·lar·ized, sec·u·lar·iz·ing.

1. to make secular; separate from religious or spiritual connection or influences; make worldly or unspiritual; imbue with secularism.
2. to change (clergy) from regular to secular.
3. to transfer (property) from ecclesiastical to civil possession or use.

secularize

/ ˈsɛkjʊləˌraɪz /

verb

1. to change from religious or sacred to secular functions, etc
2. to dispense from allegiance to a religious order
3. law to transfer (property) from ecclesiastical to civil possession or use
4. English legal history to transfer (an offender) from the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical courts to that of the civil courts for the imposition of a more severe punishment

Derived Forms

• ˌseculariˈzation, noun
• ˈsecularˌizer, noun

Other Words From

• sec·u·lar·i·za·tion [sek-y, uh, -l, uh, -rahy-, zey, -sh, uh, n] noun
• sec·u·lar·iz·er noun
• o·ver·sec·u·lar·ize verb (used with object) oversecularized oversecularizing
• un·sec·u·lar·ized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of secularize¹

First recorded in 1605–15; secular + -ize

Example Sentences

Hospitals were secularized, orphanages and parish schools closed or often transformed into prep schools for rich kids causing the Church to relinquish much of its relevancy in the daily lives of Catholics.

From Salon

“You could make the argument that it … in the secularized form over the centuries becomes just a general principle that the morally correct person is somebody who doesn’t waste their time.”

From Seattle Times

Brigid’s moment is happening as many Irish are disillusioned with traditional Roman Catholicism and its patriarchal leadership amid a secularizing culture.

From Seattle Times

Holidays were secularized: Holy Week is known as Tourism Week.

From Seattle Times

But blasphemy laws were gradually relaxed as Sweden became increasingly secularized.

From Seattle Times