adjective
profane
Not religious or sacred.
The collection includes both sacred hymns and profane songs about love.
Etymology
The components evoke what lies outside the temple. Profane therefore distinguishes ordinary secular things from those set apart as sacred.
More examples
- Her research explores the boundary between sacred and profane spaces.
- The festival combines religious ceremonies with profane entertainment.
- The course covers both religious poetry and profane verse.
Forms
profane
Similar words
- secular
- The more usual neutral word for things unrelated to religion.
- nonreligious
- Directly indicates no religious character, affiliation, or belief.