Secolare

Secolare is an adjective used in Romance languages such as Italian and Portuguese, derived from Latin saeculum, meaning age or century. It denotes worldly or non-religious aspects and can also indicate long duration or age.

In religious contexts, the term appears in phrases like clero secolare, which refers to secular clergy—priests who live and work in the world rather than within a monastic community. This usage distinguishes secular clergy from regular or religious clergy.

Beyond religion, secolare is used to describe things that have existed for centuries or that belong to a tradition of long duration, such as “tradizioni secolari” or “árvores seculares” (century-old trees). It can also characterize long-standing institutions and structures.

Cross-linguistic notes: In Spanish, the common term for secular is laico; secolare is less common and often found in formal or historical contexts. The core idea in all uses is a contrast with religious life, or a sense of lasting through many generations.