layperson
noun
lay·per·son
ˈlā-ˌpər-sᵊn 
plural laypeople
ˈlā-ˌpē-pəl
also laypersons
also laypersons
1
: a member of the laity (see laity sense 1)
It [the Vatican] permitted groups of laypeople to apply to their local bishop and, after affirming loyalty to Vatican II, receive an indult allowing limited celebration of the 1962 missal.—
Peter Jeffrey
Peter JeffreyBishop Edgar M. da Cunha will award the Marian Medal to 79 laypersons from parishes throughout the Fall River Diocese …—Mansfield (Massachusetts) News
Mansfield (Massachusetts) News2
: a person who does not belong to a particular profession or who is not expert or versed in some field
Intended for the layperson, this book uses straightforward language to aid in identifying more than 500 medicinal plants.—Mark Blumenthal
Mark BlumenthalTechnically, it's called "Ultimate," but most laypeople need the "Frisbee" attached to make an association.—Joe Miller
Joe MillerExamples of layperson in a Sentence
a meeting between clergy and laypeople
Recent Examples on the Web
Living in Colorado gave the family the option to explore the hemp, at the time defined as marijuana and a schedule I substance that couldn't be studied or accessed by a layperson.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 12 June 2025
The problem, especially for the layperson, is that the AI generated responses sound so good, that they are taken at face value.
—Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
The updates themselves are rather technical and may not do much to excite a layperson, but the brand’s efforts have been well received by those in the know.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
For a medicine to be granted OTC status, it must be deemed sufficiently safe to do so without monitoring from a medical professional, be effective, and include labeling understandable to the layperson to ensure proper use.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for layperson
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Angela Andaloro, People.com, 12 June 2025
The problem, especially for the layperson, is that the AI generated responses sound so good, that they are taken at face value.
—Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
The updates themselves are rather technical and may not do much to excite a layperson, but the brand’s efforts have been well received by those in the know.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
For a medicine to be granted OTC status, it must be deemed sufficiently safe to do so without monitoring from a medical professional, be effective, and include labeling understandable to the layperson to ensure proper use.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for layperson
Cite this Entry
“Layperson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/layperson. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
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layperson
noun
lay·per·son
ˈlā-ˌpərs-ᵊn
: a member of the laity
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