laicize — English Dictionary

Verb

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

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   They will laicise each of the schools in the district.

2. To reduce from clergy to layman.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

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

3. To convert to lay status.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

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

Verb

1. reduce to lay status

   Synonyms

   laicise

   Broader terms

   changealtermodify

   Examples

   laicize the parochial schools