noun

secularism

secularism

Secularism separates state from religious institutions.

Secularism separates state from religious institutions.

The country has a long tradition of secularism.

The country has a long tradition of secularism.

((uncountable)) the belief that religion should not be involved with the ordinary social and political activities of a country. The country has a long tradition of secularism.

Synonyms: laicism; Antonyms: theocracy, clericalism

From Latin 'saecularis' (worldly, of an age) + '-ism', a suffix denoting a belief or doctrine.

Think of 'secular' as meaning separate from religion, and '-ism' as a system of belief. So, it's a system of belief in separation from religion.

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