secular

/ˈsɛkjələr/

/ˈsɛkjulə/

Other forms: seculars; secularly

Secular things are not religious. Anything not affiliated with a church or faith can be called secular.

Non-religious people can be called atheists or agnostics, but to describe things, activities, or attitudes that have nothing to do with religion, you can use the word secular. Public schools are secular, but Catholic schools are not. Grocery stores are secular; a synagogue is not. If there's no religion involved, then you're in "the secular world" — as people sometimes call everything that exists outside of religion.

Definitions of secular

1. noun

   someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person
   synonyms: layman, layperson

   types:

   lay reader

   a layman who is authorized by the bishop to read parts of the service in an Anglican or Episcopal church

   type of:

   common man, common person, commoner

   a person who holds no title
2. adjective

   characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world
   synonyms: temporal, worldly

   earthly

   of or belonging to or characteristic of this earth as distinguished from heaven

   profane

   not concerned with or devoted to religion

   sophisticated

   having or appealing to those having worldly knowledge and refinement and savoir-faire

   economic

   concerned with worldly necessities of life (especially money)

   material

   concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests

   materialistic, mercenary, worldly-minded

   marked by materialism

   mundane, terrestrial

   concerned with the world or worldly matters
3. adjective

   not concerned with or devoted to religion
   “secular drama”

   synonyms: profane

   earthly

   of or belonging to or characteristic of this earth as distinguished from heaven

   impious

   lacking piety or reverence for a god

   laic, lay

   characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy

   profanatory

   profaning or tending to desecrate

   temporal, worldly

   characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world
4. adjective

   of or relating to the doctrine that rejects religion and religious considerations
5. adjective

   of or relating to clergy not bound by monastic vows
   “the secular clergy”

   antonyms:

   religious

   of or relating to clergy bound by monastic vows
6. adjective

   characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy
   synonyms: laic, lay

   profane

   not concerned with or devoted to religion