Secularization Meaning
/ˈsɛkjələɹaɪˌzeɪʃən/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious (or "irreligious") values and secular institutions.
nounThe deconsecration of a church.
Sentence Examples
I read the article "Secularization without Secularism: The Political-Religious Configuration of Post-1989 China."
The sociologist wrote a paper on the secularization of modern society.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ of society has led to fewer people attending church services regularly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ of society accelerated during the twentieth century as church attendance declined.
Word Origin & History
From secularize + -ation.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Wojtyla and Mazowiecki come from the same Krakow intellectual circles that advocated the secularization of politics and led the recent efforts for Polish-Jewish dialogue."
— 1989 November 29, Eric O. Hanson, “What the Continent Needs Is a Soul : Europe: The Pope and the Soviet leader will meet as partners in a common cause: the evolution of a new world from the Atlantic to the Urals.”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 Jan 2025:
"[C]onservative Christian organizations have pushed back against what they describe as the secularization of Christmas."
— 2007 August 15, Paul Vitello, “When ‘Christmas Concert’ Are Fighting Words”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Jun 2015:
"[H]e took advantage of several developments: the ongoing secularization of art and painting’s growing attention to actual people, and its rising status as portable market commodity."
— 2021 June 24, Roberta Smith, “For the Medici, the Last Great Picture Show”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 Jun 2021:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ of society has led to fewer people attending church services regularly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ of society accelerated during the twentieth century as church attendance declined.