Laïcité
From French law
Constitutional and public lawReligious and customary law
What it means
The French principle that the state is secular: it recognises no religion, funds none, and guarantees freedom of belief. It also expects public life to be neutral.
Why it travels badly
'Secularism' and 'separation of church and state' each capture part of it, but neither all. In the US, the First Amendment protects the free exercise of religion and bars an establishment. In France, laïcité is also a duty of neutrality for the public service. India's 'secularism' means equal respect for all religions. Germany cooperates with churches, and even collects a church tax for them.
How other systems say it
laïcité (Article 1 of the Constitution; Law of 9 December 1905)
'France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic.' The state and religious bodies are separate.
separation of church and state
From the First Amendment's Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses. The phrase comes from Jefferson and was used in Everson v Board of Education (1947).
secularism
The Constitution's Preamble calls India secular, and the Supreme Court in S R Bommai (1994) held that it means equal respect for all religions.
weltanschauliche Neutralität
The state is neutral but cooperates with religious communities, which can have public-law status and receive the church tax.
Tip for translators and students
Keep 'laïcité' in a French context and explain it, since 'secularism' in English carries different meanings.
Related: Rechtsstaat, Human dignity, Droit, Recht, Derecho, Diritto
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
TheLawToKnow Tools’s glossary is an educational overview of the main differences between legal systems. It is not legal advice.
