Laicism
/ˈleɪ.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/noun
The principle of separating religion from government and public institutions.
Did you know?Laicism ultimately comes from Greek laos, meaning “the people” — the same root behind “laity,” originally contrasting ordinary believers with the clergy.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
laós
“the people, the populace”
Late Latin
Latin
laicus
“of the people; not of the clergy”
Old French
French
laique
“lay, secular, non-clerical”
18th–19th Century
French/English
laïcisme
“the doctrine of secular public life”
Modern English
English
laicism
“the principle of separating religion from civil authority”