separation of church and state

noun phrase

: the act or state of keeping government and religion separate from each other

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Liberals, from Thomas Jefferson to Aristide Briand, championed the separation of church and state. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 In times of war and tumult, America’s leaders used religious imagery for encouragement, while maintaining the separation of church and state as outlined in the First Amendment of the Constitution. — Scott Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor, 29 July 2026 The separation of church and state is under attack from familiar quarters. — Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 Enlightenment figures, such as John Locke, also advanced notions of separation of church and state. — Steven K. Green, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for separation of church and state

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separation negative
separation of church and state
separation of variables
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“Separation of church and state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/separation%20of%20church%20and%20state. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Legal Definition

separation of church and state

: the separation of religion and government mandated under the establishment clause and the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution that forbids governmental establishment or preference of a religion and that preserves religious freedom from governmental intrusion
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