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Added 9 October 2026

profane

/pɹəˈfeɪn/ adjective

In Latin: nefastus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about profane at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Unclean; ritually impure; unholy, desecrating a holy place or thing.
Not sacred or holy, unconsecrated; relating to non-religious matters, secular.
profane authors
Treating sacred things with contempt, disrespect, irreverence, or scorn; blasphemous, impious.

noun

A person or thing that is profane.
A person not a Mason.

verb

To violate (something sacred); to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy, or contempt; to desecrate
One should not profane the name of God.
To put to a wrong or unworthy use; to debase; to abuse; to defile.

Origin

From Middle English prophane, from Middle French profane, prophaine, prophane and its etymon Classical Latin profānus (“not religious, unclean”) (also Late Latin prophānus), from pro- (“instead of”) + fānum (“temple”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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