sec ‧ u ‧ lar /ˈsekjələ, ˈsekjʊlə $ -ər/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: seculer , from Latin saecularis 'coming once in an age' , from saeculum 'breed, generation' ]
1 . not connected with or controlled by a church or other religious authority:
secular education
our modern secular society
2 . a secular priest lives among ordinary people, rather than with other priests in a ↑ monastery
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THESAURUS
■ relating to religion
▪ religious relating to religion:
the country's religious leaders
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the importance of religious freedom
▪ spiritual relating to matters of the human spirit, rather than the physical world:
The Dalai Lamai is the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet.
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We tend to ignore people's spriritual needs, and focus too much on material things.
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spiritual values
▪ holy [usually before noun] connected with God and religion, and therefore treated in a special way – used especially in the following phrases:
the Holy Bible
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the holy city of Mecca
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a Hindu holy man
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They believe they are fighting a holy war.
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The priest puts some holy water on the child's head.
▪ sacred connected with God and religion, and therefore treated in a special way – used especially in the following phrases:
This place is sacred to both Jews and Muslims.
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In India, cows are considered sacred.
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the Hindu sacred texts
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sacred music
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a sacred ritual
▪ theological relating to the study of religion or to religious beliefs:
a theological debate
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theological training
▪ secular not relating to religion or controlled by a religious authority:
secular education
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secular matters
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In the UK we live in a much more secular society.