lay reader
noun
1
: a layperson authorized to conduct parts of the church services not requiring a priest or minister
2
Examples of lay reader in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In this elegant volume, equally valuable to specialists and lay readers, two lifelong scholars of First Amendment jurisprudence gather an array of experts to explore the problems presented by digital technology and their possible solutions.
—
Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2022
Graeber had mastered the art of pulling new research out of his home field and contextualizing it for the lay reader.
—Sam Dean, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2023
Willingham has the gift, not always common among academics and scholars, of speaking clearly and plainly to the lay reader.
—Peter Greene, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2022
To a lay reader, Olson’s story hovers between narcissism and fabulism by way of some crass stereotyping.
—Alex Perry, Outside Online, 24 July 2019
Her portrayals provide the lay reader with an anthropomorphic compass by which to better navigate the biology.
—Eugenia Bone, WSJ, 7 May 2021
Troy’s portrait of White House rivalries is essential reading for political junkies and lay readers alike.
—David Mark, Washington Examiner, 8 Mar. 2020
But soon after, lay readers like Marjorie Rice, a San Diego housewife with a high school math education, discovered new tessellating pentagon families beyond those known to Kershner.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 July 2017
Both the academic and lay reader will appreciate how, in shattering the simplistic Enlightenment account of Newton, the book reveals the flexibility of the great man’s capacious mind.
—David Davis, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2017
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Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2022
Graeber had mastered the art of pulling new research out of his home field and contextualizing it for the lay reader.
—Sam Dean, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2023
Willingham has the gift, not always common among academics and scholars, of speaking clearly and plainly to the lay reader.
—Peter Greene, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2022
To a lay reader, Olson’s story hovers between narcissism and fabulism by way of some crass stereotyping.
—Alex Perry, Outside Online, 24 July 2019
Her portrayals provide the lay reader with an anthropomorphic compass by which to better navigate the biology.
—Eugenia Bone, WSJ, 7 May 2021
Troy’s portrait of White House rivalries is essential reading for political junkies and lay readers alike.
—David Mark, Washington Examiner, 8 Mar. 2020
But soon after, lay readers like Marjorie Rice, a San Diego housewife with a high school math education, discovered new tessellating pentagon families beyond those known to Kershner.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 July 2017
Both the academic and lay reader will appreciate how, in shattering the simplistic Enlightenment account of Newton, the book reveals the flexibility of the great man’s capacious mind.
—David Davis, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2017
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lay reader.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near lay reader
Cite this Entry
“Lay reader.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lay%20reader. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
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