Pronunciation: [lˈe͡ɪsa͡ɪz] (IPA) 
The word "laicize" is spelled with a "c" despite sounding like it should be spelled with an "s". This is because it comes from the French word "laïciser", which is spelled with a "c". In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced as /leɪ.əˈsaɪz/. The word means to remove the religious status or influence from an institution, organization, or individual. It is often used in discussions about separating church and state.
The term "laicize" is a verb that refers to the act of making someone or something secular, or removing its religious or spiritual nature. When a person or institution is laicized, it means that they are disassociated from religious affiliations or functions.
In the context of individuals, laicization often involves the process of renouncing religious vows or affiliations. This is particularly common in religious orders or clergy, where individuals voluntarily choose to abandon their religious roles and become laypeople. It entails relinquishing the responsibilities, privileges, and obligations associated with their previous religious position.
Laicization can also be applied to the transforming of religious institutions or practices into secular ones. This process aims to separate religious influence from a particular setting or system, usually with the intention of making it more inclusive or neutral. For example, a religiously affiliated school might undergo laicization to become a public institution that caters to students of all backgrounds.
The term "laicize" is often used within the context of religious institutions, but it can also be applied more broadly to describe the secularization or removal of religious influence from various aspects of society. In essence, "laicize" is the act of rendering someone or something non-religious or secular.
The word "laicize" has its roots in the Latin word "laicus", which means "layperson" or "of the people". It comes from the Greek word "laikos" (λαϊκός), which has the same meaning. In both Latin and Greek, the word "laicus" is derived from "laos" (λαός), meaning "people" or "community".
The suffix "-ize" in English indicates "to make or cause". Therefore, "laicize" means "to make or cause someone or something to become secular or nonclerical". It refers to the act of converting a person or an institution from a religious or clerical status to a secular one.
