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
Examples of some of these key changes under Francis were revised procedures for an assembly of bishops known as a synod by allowing women and laity to participate, and his appointment of women to lead certain Vatican agencies.
—Liam Adams, USA Today, 12 May 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
Examples of some of these key changes under Francis were revised procedures for an assembly of bishops known as a synod by allowing women and laity to participate, and his appointment of women to lead certain Vatican agencies.
—Liam Adams, USA Today, 12 May 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
-
According to church officials, the federal government notified the organization in late March that the funding would be terminated.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Since then, Human Rights Watch asserted, the authorities have demolished hundreds of church buildings or the crosses atop them, prevented adherents from gathering in unofficial churches, restricted access to the Bible, and confiscated religious materials not authorized by the government.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For now, his parish is lively and full of young families.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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Shamefully, even as the Evanston parish was asking its members to dig deeper, Anderson was siphoning some of the church funds for his own personal needs.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As each week’s Shabbat morning service comes to a close at Temple Beth El in West Palm Beach an unusual tradition unfolds as the congregation prepares to recite the Mourner’s Kaddish.—
Stewart Ain,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
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These congregations just completely dispense with any allegiance to the American idea of pluralism or anything but White Christian nationalism.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laity. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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