Secular means separate from religion or not connected to religious matters. A secular school teaches regular subjects like math, history, and science without making any religion part of its curriculum or daily routine. When a government is secular, it doesn't favor any particular religion and keeps religious beliefs out of its laws and decisions.

The word helps distinguish between the religious and non-religious parts of life. A church, mosque, or temple is a religious building, while a library or post office is a secular one. Christmas carols about Jesus are religious, while “Jingle Bells” is secular because it's just about winter fun and sleigh rides.

Many countries have secular governments, meaning they protect everyone's right to practice any religion (or none at all) while keeping government decisions based on shared civic values rather than the teachings of one faith. In medieval Europe, the Catholic Church owned vast amounts of land and wealth. When governments took control of this property, the process was called secularization because power shifted from religious to non-religious authorities.

You might hear someone described as secular if they live their life without religious practice, though this doesn't mean they're against religion. It simply means religion isn't central to how they make decisions or spend their time.