secular
UK[ˈsɛkjʊlə]US[ˈsɛkjələr]
adj
relating to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred.
adj
(of clergy) not subject to or bound by religious rule; not belonging to or living in a monastic or other order.
Etymology
The word 'secular' originates from the Latin 'saecularis', meaning 'of an age, worldly'. This, in turn, derives from 'saeculum', signifying 'generation, age, span of time'. The core semantic shift is from the temporal realm—the concerns of a particular age or generation—to the non-religious realm, in contrast to the eternal and spiritual. In Christian Latin, 'saecularis' was used to distinguish worldly clergy (those living "in the world") from regular clergy (those living under monastic rule), a distinction that directly informs the modern meaning.
Analysis
The word is a simplex borrowing from Latin. It is not productively segmented in modern English spelling.
Examples
The country has a secular government that does not favor any particular religion.
He made a successful transition from a religious to a secular life.
We are witnessing a long-term secular trend of increasing urbanization.