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
In some temples, a monk’s duty is to sit inside one of the main halls and wait until the laity comes to receive offerings and give blessings.
—
Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
As the laity began organizing in an effort to meet these obligations, a variety of institutions external to the parish were also confronted with the parish’s new position.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 Mar. 2025
Reforms on the table include how to give greater roles to women in the Catholic Church, including ordaining them as deacons, and the greater inclusion of laity in governance and decision making.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
The laity were to be monogamous, the holy men celibate, and the actually divine would not even feel lust.
—S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laity
Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
As the laity began organizing in an effort to meet these obligations, a variety of institutions external to the parish were also confronted with the parish’s new position.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 Mar. 2025
Reforms on the table include how to give greater roles to women in the Catholic Church, including ordaining them as deacons, and the greater inclusion of laity in governance and decision making.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
The laity were to be monogamous, the holy men celibate, and the actually divine would not even feel lust.
—S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laity
Noun
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The liberal justices on the court sought to defend the country’s separation between church and state, which has previously not allowed public funding for religious charter schools.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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In 1840, the church opened the first of an eventual fifteen liberal arts colleges, all free-thinking, abolitionist, and dedicated to educating men and women on an equal basis.—
Richard D. Mahoney,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In the South Bay, Diocese of San Jose Bishop Oscar Cantu says that Pope Francis was a refreshing voice to members of the 53 parishes throughout the diocese, where half offer Spanish masses.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
21 Apr. 2025
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Hailing from the parish of St. Catherine, near the capital of Kingston, Blake found early joy in feeding people—namely his many siblings and his hardworking mother and father.—
Jasmine Browley,
Essence,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In 1949, the building was sold to an African Methodist Episcopal congregation and renamed Clayborn Temple, according to the release.—
Adrian Sainz and Travis Loller,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
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The congregations will continue daily, starting at 9 a.m. (3 a.m. ET) except for on May 1 and May 4.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Laity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laity. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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