secular
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: seculars
Sense 1
Not specifically religious; lay or civil, as opposed to clerical.
Adjective
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Temporal; worldly, or otherwise not based on something timeless.
Adjective
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules.
Noun
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 4
A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “secular” mean?
Not specifically religious; lay or civil, as opposed to clerical.
Is “secular” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.