Dechristianise

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Strips Christian beliefs, institutions, or symbols out of a society, culture, or public life so they no longer shape it
2. Removes the Christian character or influence from a nation, institution, or custom until it becomes secular
3. Makes a country, community, or practice no longer under Christian religious influence or identity

Etymology: "Dechristianise" is an alternative spelling of "de-Christianise", a verb built from the prefix "de-", meaning "reverse or remove", and "Christianise", which means to convert to Christianity or to give something a Christian character. Put together, the word means to strip Christian influence, belief or institutions from a person, society or place. The "de-" prefix comes from Latin, where it could mean "down", "away" or "undo", and English has long attached it to verbs to reverse an action, as in "decentralise" or "deregulate". The base verb "Christianise" is itself formed from "Christian" and the suffix "-ise", a pattern that gives English verbs meaning "to make or treat in the manner of". Because the word is a transparent combination of two existing parts, it has no single coining story to tell. Its meaning follows directly from its parts, and its use has largely been in discussions of historical or social change, where a society is described as becoming less shaped by Christian belief or practice.

Synonyms: secularise, secularize

Antonyms: christianise, christianize