'Secular' definitions:

Definition of 'secular'

From: WordNet
adjective
Of or relating to the doctrine that rejects religion and religious considerations
adjective
Characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world; "worldly goods and advancement"; "temporal possessions of the church" [syn: worldly, secular, temporal] [ant: unworldly]
adjective
Not concerned with or devoted to religion; "sacred and profane music"; "secular drama"; "secular architecture", "children being brought up in an entirely profane environment" [syn: profane, secular] [ant: sacred]
adjective
Of or relating to clergy not bound by monastic vows; "the secular clergy" [ant: religious]
adjective
Characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy; "set his collar in laic rather than clerical position"; "the lay ministry" [syn: laic, lay, secular]
noun
Someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person [syn: layman, layperson, secular] [ant: clergyman, man of the cloth, reverend]

Definition of 'Secular'

From: GCIDE
  • Secular \Sec"u*lar\, n.
  • 1. (Eccl.) A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Eccl.) A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir. --Busby. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Secular'

From: GCIDE
  • Secular \Sec"u*lar\, a. [OE. secular, seculer. L. saecularis, fr. saeculum a race, generation, age, the times, the world; perhaps akin to E. soul: cf. F. s['e]culier.]
  • 1. Coming or observed once in an age or a century. [1913 Webster]
  • The secular year was kept but once a century. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Pertaining to an age, or the progress of ages, or to a long period of time; accomplished in a long progress of time; as, secular inequality; the secular refrigeration of the globe. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Of or pertaining to this present world, or to things not spiritual or holy; relating to temporal as distinguished from eternal interests; not immediately or primarily respecting the soul, but the body; worldly. [1913 Webster]
  • New foes arise, Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Eccl.) Not regular; not bound by monastic vows or rules; not confined to a monastery, or subject to the rules of a religious community; as, a secular priest. [1913 Webster]
  • He tried to enforce a stricter discipline and greater regard for morals, both in the religious orders and the secular clergy. --Prescott. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Belonging to the laity; lay; not clerical. [1913 Webster]
  • I speak of folk in secular estate. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • Secular equation (Astron.), the algebraic or numerical expression of the magnitude of the inequalities in a planet's motion that remain after the inequalities of a short period have been allowed for.
  • Secular games (Rom. Antiq.), games celebrated, at long but irregular intervals, for three days and nights, with sacrifices, theatrical shows, combats, sports, and the like.
  • Secular music, any music or songs not adapted to sacred uses.
  • Secular hymn or Secular poem, a hymn or poem composed for the secular games, or sung or rehearsed at those games. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'secular'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Secular'