Word

secularism

noun C1

UK /ˈsɛkjʊləɹɪzəm/

US /ˈsɛkjələɹɪzəm/

Meanings

noun

the principle that religion should be separated from government and public institutions

noun

a social trend in which religious influence declines and public life becomes less shaped by religion

Definition

Secularism is the principle that government and public institutions should remain neutral toward religion and separate from religious authority.

Secularism is the idea that the state should not be controlled by any religion and should treat all beliefs fairly. It supports separating religious institutions from government decision-making. In practice, it often means laws and public policy are based on non-religious reasons that everyone can debate, regardless of faith.

Examples

In her essay, she argues that secularism protects believers and non-believers by keeping the state impartial.
They debated whether secularism in schools should limit religious symbols or simply prevent official endorsement.
I support secularism because I want public policy to be justified in terms that everyone can evaluate.
He claimed that the country’s version of secularism was being used to silence minority faiths rather than ensure neutrality.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse secularism (state neutrality toward religion) with atheism (a lack of belief in God).