profane

[ pruh-feyn, proh- ]
See synonyms for: profaneprofaned on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious.

  2. not devoted to holy or religious purposes; unconsecrated; secular (opposed to sacred).

  1. unholy; heathen; pagan: profane rites.

  2. not initiated into religious rites or mysteries, as persons.

  3. common or vulgar.

verb (used with object),pro·faned, pro·fan·ing.
  1. to misuse (anything that should be held in reverence or respect); employ basely or unworthily; defile; debase.

  2. to treat (anything sacred) with irreverence or contempt; violate the sanctity of: to profane a shrine.

Origin of profane

1
1350–1400; (adj.) <Latin profānus literally, before (outside of) the temple; replacing Middle English prophane<Medieval Latin prophānus desecrated (see pro-1, fane); (v.) <Latin profānāre, derivative of profānus; replacing Middle English prophanen<Medieval Latin prophānāre to desecrate

Other words for profane

Opposites for profane

Other words from profane

  • pro·fane·ly, adverb
  • pro·fane·ness, noun
  • pro·fan·er, noun
  • half-pro·fane, adjective
  • non·pro·fane, adjective
  • non·pro·fane·ly, adverb
  • non·pro·fane·ness, noun
  • sem·i·pro·fane, adjective
  • sem·i·pro·fane·ly, adverb
  • sem·i·pro·fane·ness, noun
  • un·pro·fane, adjective
  • un·pro·fane·ly, adverb
  • un·pro·fane·ness, noun
  • un·pro·faned, adjective

Words that may be confused with profane

Words Nearby profane

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use profane in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for profane

profane

/ (prəˈfeɪn) /


adjective
  1. having or indicating contempt, irreverence, or disrespect for a divinity or something sacred

  2. not designed or used for religious purposes; secular

  1. not initiated into the inner mysteries or sacred rites

  2. vulgar, coarse, or blasphemous: profane language

verb(tr)
  1. to treat or use (something sacred) with irreverence

  2. to put to an unworthy or improper use

Origin of profane

1
C15: from Latin profānus outside the temple, from pro- 1 + fānum temple

Derived forms of profane

  • profanation (ˌprɒfəˈneɪʃən), noun
  • profanatory (prəˈfænətərɪ, -trɪ), adjective
  • profanely, adverb
  • profaneness, noun
  • profaner, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012