as in church
the people of a religion who are not priests, ministers, etc.
a member of the laity The laity has played an important role in the history of the church.
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Recent Examples of laity
To believe that churches can direct the laity on how to vote, whether for members of the school board or for the president of the country, is to deny the Christian teaching that all humans are made in the image of God and can understand and follow his will themselves.
—
Esau McCaulley, The Atlantic, 15 July 2025
Yet many donors—ministers, nonprofit leaders, and faithful laity—gave to support orthodox Christian training rooted in biblical fidelity, not the progressive agendas dominating mainline seminaries.
—The Rev. Jake Dell, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2025
Francis expanded the College of Cardinals beyond the large dioceses and archdioceses to create geographic and cultural diversity and to better represent the makeup of the laity and where the church is growing.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
As during the Protestant Reformation, the theological divide has extended beyond the clergy to the laity and the common faithful in the pew.
—Massimo Faggioli, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2018
See All Example Sentences for laity
Esau McCaulley, The Atlantic, 15 July 2025
Yet many donors—ministers, nonprofit leaders, and faithful laity—gave to support orthodox Christian training rooted in biblical fidelity, not the progressive agendas dominating mainline seminaries.
—The Rev. Jake Dell, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2025
Francis expanded the College of Cardinals beyond the large dioceses and archdioceses to create geographic and cultural diversity and to better represent the makeup of the laity and where the church is growing.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
As during the Protestant Reformation, the theological divide has extended beyond the clergy to the laity and the common faithful in the pew.
—Massimo Faggioli, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2018
See All Example Sentences for laity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laity
Noun
-
For example, Bulgari contributed to the restoration of the 16th-century Scala d’Oro at the Doge’s Palace in Venice, called Golden Staircase for its stuccoes in gold leaves, and the paintings by Paolo Veronese in the church of San Pietro Martire in Murano.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
-
Outside of Carrollton, Kentucky, a drunk driver going the wrong way on an interstate hit a converted school bus that was carrying a church group.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Not all parishes can afford to pay for a support staff to fully serve the parish and our missionary aspirations.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Next spring, the parish will start its fundraising campaign.—
Desiree Mathurin
April 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ries ministers to the congregation of 211 members that belongs to the monastery church.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
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Site visits and work in the studio will be part of her creative research, as well as dialogues with religious communities and congregations, university professors and artisans.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laity. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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