profane

 
Pronunciation: /prəˈfeɪn/

adjective

  • 1not relating to that which is sacred or religious; secular: a talk that tackled topics both sacred and profane
  • (of a person) not initiated into religious rites or any esoteric knowledge: he was an agnostic, a profane man
  • 2(of a person or their behaviour) not respectful of religious practice; irreverent: a profane person might be tempted to violate the tomb
  • (of language) blasphemous or obscene.

verb

[with object]
  • treat (something sacred) with irreverence or disrespect: it was a serious matter to profane a tomb

Derivatives

profanation

Pronunciation: /prɒfəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/
noun

profanely

adverb

profaneness

noun

profaner

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'heathen'): from Old French prophane, from Latin profanus 'outside the temple, not sacred', from pro- (from Latin pro 'before') + fanum 'temple'