secularization

[ sek-yuh-luh-rahy-zey-shuhn ]

noun

1. separation from religious or spiritual connection or influences:

   The secularization of America can be seen in politics, legal decisions, and educational institutions, as well as in the arts and the media.

2. the transfer of property from ecclesiastical to civil possession or use:

   There continues to be a debate about the secularization of religious art objects now exhibited in museum settings.

Other Words From

• o·ver·sec·u·lar·i·za·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of secularization¹

seculariz(e) ( def ) + -ation ( def )

Example Sentences

“The church’s internal difficulties constitute an excellent breeding ground of accelerating trends of secularization,” the report, Polish Church 2023, said.

From New York Times

It is difficult to overstate how significant the double-whammy of secularization and the second law were.

From Salon

Those on the right worry about secularization, political correctness, illegal immigration and more.

From Seattle Times

The connection between loneliness and secularization is that if one believes that God is omnipresent, always there watching over us, in a personal capacity as our lord and savior, how could one possibly feel lonely?

From Salon

He hinted that it might be because of the rise of secularization.

From Washington Post