Definition of laity
1
: the people of a religious faith as distinguished from its clergy
The laity has played an important role in the history of the church.
2
: the mass of the people as distinguished from those of a particular profession or those specially skilled
writers who can interpret this wholeness both to their colleagues and the laity— P. B. Sears
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for laity
The first known use of laity was in the 15th century
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