profane

UK: /prəˈfeɪn/ US: /prəˈfeɪn, proʊ-/ ,(prə fān′, prō-)

Inflections of 'profane' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

profanes

v 3rd person singular

profaning

v pres p

profaned

v past

profaned

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pro•fane /prəˈfeɪn, proʊ-/   adj., v., -faned, -fan•ing. 
adj. 

1. showing disrespect toward God or sacred things; blasphemous.
2. not devoted to holy purposes.

v. [~ + object]

3. to misuse (anything sacred or holy);
   defile;
   debase.

prof•a•na•tion /ˌprɑfəˈneɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]
pro•fane•ly, adv. 
pro•fane•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pro•fane  (prə fān′, prō-), adj., v., -faned, -fan•ing. 
adj. 

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).
3. unholy;
   heathen;
   pagan:
   profane rites.
4. not initiated into religious rites or mysteries, as persons.
5. common or vulgar.

v.t. 

6. to misuse (anything that should be held in reverence or respect);
   defile;
   debase;
   employ basely or unworthily.
7. to treat (anything sacred) with irreverence or contempt;
   violate the sanctity of:
   to profane a shrine.

• Medieval Latin prophānāre to desecrate
• Latin profānāre, derivative of profānus; replacing Middle English prophanen
• Medieval Latin prophānus desecrated (see pro-¹, fane); (verb, verbal)
• Latin profānus literally, before (outside of ) the temple; replacing Middle English prophane
• (adjective, adjectival) 1350–1400

pro•fane′ly, adv. 
pro•fane′ness, n. 
pro•fan′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. blasphemous, sacrilegious, impious, ungodly.
• 2. temporal.
• 3. unhallowed.
• 5. low, mean, base.
• 7. desecrate.

Antonyms

• 1. sacred.
• 2. spiritual.
• 3. holy.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

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
3. not initiated into the inner mysteries or sacred rites
4. vulgar, coarse, or blasphemous: profane language

verb (transitive)

1. to treat or use (something sacred) with irreverence
2. to put to an unworthy or improper use

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin profānus outside the temple, from pro-¹ + fānum temple

profanation / ˌprɒfəˈneɪʃən/ noun

proˈfanely adverb

proˈfaneness noun