1. opposed to the influence of organized religion, especially in political and social matters

Examples

• The anticlerical movement sought to reduce the church’s role in government.
• Many anticlerical policies were enacted during the French Revolution.
• The newspaper took an anticlerical stance on education reform.
• Anticlerical sentiment grew among those who favored separation of church and state.
• The politician’s anticlerical views made him unpopular with religious voters.
• Anticlerical laws restricted the church’s ownership of property.