laicize

L1A1I1C3I1Z10E1
/ˈleɪ.ɪ.saɪz//ˈleɪsʌɪz/

verb

To convert from church-controlled to independent of the church; to secularize.

“They will laicise each of the schools in the district.”

Similar
laicise
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Meanings

verblaicize (third-person singular simple present laicizes, present participle laicizing, simple past and past participle laicized)

present singular third person laicizes · participle present laicizing · participle past laicized · past laicized

  1. transitiveTo convert from church-controlled to independent of the church; to secularize.

    They will laicise each of the schools in the district.

  2. transitiveTo reduce from clergy to layman.

    Due to his controversial views the Vatican decided to laicise the priest.

  3. intransitiveTo convert to lay status.

    The soup kitchen laicised, it moved out of the church and registered as an independent non-profit.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbreduce to lay status

Similar
laicise
Broader
changealtermodify

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From laic (“layperson”) + -ize (verbal suffix).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan laïcitzar, laïcitzar
  • laïcitzarto convert from church-controlled to independent
  • laïcitzarto reduce from clergy to layman
Hungarian elvilágiasít, szekularizál
  • elvilágiasítto convert from church-controlled to independent
  • szekularizálto convert from church-controlled to independent
  • laicizálto reduce from clergy to layman
  • világivá teszto reduce from clergy to layman
  • laicizálódikto convert to lay status
  • szekularizálódikto convert to lay status
  • világi leszto convert to lay status
  • elvilágiasodikto convert to lay status
Polish laicyzować, zlaicyzować
  • laicyzowaćto convert from church-controlled to independent
  • zlaicyzowaćto convert from church-controlled to independent
  • laicyzowaćto reduce from clergy to layman
  • zlaicyzowaćto reduce from clergy to layman
  • laicyzować sięto convert to lay status
  • zlaicyzować sięto convert to lay status
Spanish laicizar, laicizarse
  • laicizarto convert from church-controlled to independent
  • laicizarseto convert to lay status
Cite this entry
APA

laicize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/laicize

MLA

“laicize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/laicize. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “laicize,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/laicize.

Source: laicize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.