Standard Lemma guide

laicize

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈleɪ.ɪ.saɪz/
  • /ˈleɪsʌɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • They will laicise each of the schools in the district.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To reduce from clergy to layman.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To convert to lay status.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

reduce to lay status

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • laicize the parochial schools

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: laicise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English laic Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English laicize From laic (“layperson”) + -ize (verbal suffix).

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: laïcitzar — to convert from church-controlled to independent
  • Hungarian: elvilágiasít — to convert from church-controlled to independent
  • Hungarian: szekularizál — to convert from church-controlled to independent
  • Spanish: laicizar — to convert from church-controlled to independent
  • Catalan: laïcitzar — to reduce from clergy to layman
  • Hungarian: laicizál — to reduce from clergy to layman
  • Hungarian: világivá tesz — to reduce from clergy to layman
  • Hungarian: laicizálódik — to convert to lay status
  • Hungarian: szekularizálódik — to convert to lay status
  • Hungarian: világi lesz — to convert to lay status
  • Hungarian: elvilágiasodik — to convert to lay status
  • Spanish: laicizarse — to convert to lay status