nonsectarian

[ non-sek-tair-ee-uhn ]

adjective

1. not affiliated with or limited to a specific religious denomination.

nonsectarian

/ ˌnɒnsɛkˈtɛərɪən /

adjective

1. not narrow-minded, esp as a result of rigid adherence to a particular sect; broad-minded

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonsectarian¹

First recorded in 1825–35; non- + sectarian

Example Sentences

For decades in California, those dollars have only been permitted to go to schools that are nonsectarian.

From Los Angeles Times

By the 1970s, however, Christian private schools outnumbered the nonsectarian ones, which inspired political activism among Christian evangelists who had shown little political interest previously.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s not an easy needle to thread, to be a nonsectarian institution, clearly founded by people with evangelical principles and worldviews.”

From Washington Times

The Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Service is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization that offers refugees resettlement assistance, employment placement and immigration legal aid, as well as referrals to housing, education and health screening resources.

From Los Angeles Times

“We have not financed our schools in a way to make it possible to have truly nonsectarian, religiously pluralistic moments of meditation,” he said.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• multicultural