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separation of church and state
noun phrase
: the act or state of keeping government and religion separate from each other
Examples of separation of church and state in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mousavi, meanwhile, has promised tolerance of religious dissenters, the release of all political prisoners, and greater separation of church and state.
—Michael Ledeen, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2012
In some ways, this question about the separation of church and state is more important than the debate over divorce’s impact on society, Mr. Cornelio argues.
—Mark Saludes, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2024
India’s homegrown secularism is, however, distinct from the American variant centered on the strict separation of church and state.
—Milan Vaishnav, Foreign Affairs, 6 May 2019
Americans still fight over the separation of church and state, but arguments about evolution have almost completely vanished from electoral politics and the broader zeitgeist.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for separation of church and state
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'separation of church and state.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Separation of church and state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/separation%20of%20church%20and%20state. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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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