laicism
definition
the principle of separation of religion from political and social institutions
example
The country's constitution emphasizes the importance of laicism to ensure that religion does not influence state policies.
synonyms
secularismseparation of church and stateneutrality
word origin — from French 'laïcisme', derived from 'laïque' meaning 'lay' or 'secular' and the suffix '-isme' denoting a doctrine or belief