Nonsectarian
adj.kind, thoughtfulformal
What it means
Open to people regardless of religious belief or affiliation.
Reach for it when describing an institution or activity not restricted to one religious denomination
The nonsectarian charity serves families of every faith and none.
Choose between these
6- everyday
open to all faiths
plain audience-facing welcome is needed
not when The phrase should also say whether nonreligious people are included.
- warm
religiously inclusive
people of different faiths are actively welcomed
not when Inclusive practice is stronger than structural nonaffiliation.
- professional
several faith traditions participate together
not when Interfaith still centers religious affiliation.
- professional
secular
religion is institutionally separate or absent
not when A nonsectarian organization can be religious.
- formal
cooperation among Christian denominations is intended
not when Ecumenical is narrower than nonsectarian.
- formal
nondenominational
no single denomination governs the activity
not when Nondenominational often remains within one broad faith.
Said against
3- sectarian
- denominational
- faith-exclusive
It naturally appears in
3- nonsectarian charity
The nonsectarian charity serves families of every belief and none.
- nonsectarian education
Nonsectarian education formed part of the school's founding charter.
- strictly nonsectarian
The memorial remained strictly nonsectarian at the families' request.
Where this comes from
Nonsectarian does not necessarily mean secular; governance, curriculum, and access policies provide the real distinction.
- wiktionary, English adjective, not limited to a religious sect sense opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-27
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.