secularization meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

secularization

noun

CA, US, UK /ˈsɛkjələɹaɪˌzeɪʃən/

Etymology From secularize + -ation.

British, English, Oxford, US The transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious (or "irreligious") values and secular institutions.

British, English, Oxford, US The deconsecration of a church.

British, English, Oxford, US The act of becoming secular.

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:

1 more example

[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:

Synonyms: deconfessionalization, deconsecration, desacralization, laicization
Antonyms: desecularization
Related terms: secular, secularizable, secularize, secularizer