as in amateur
a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession
the discussion about investing was geared more to the layman than to the professional investor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of layman
For laymen, these molecules are involved in chemical reactions that lead to more complex molecules essential to organic life.
—
Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
In layman’s terms, that means partner universities will be adjusting course to target skills that employers have identified aren’t being taught in a classroom setting.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Oct. 2025
Still, this hasn't quelled the anxieties of anyone with a professional or layman's interest in space science.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
In layman’s speak, the BCI , or brain-computer interface, allows Arbaugh to control a computer with his mind.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for layman
Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
In layman’s terms, that means partner universities will be adjusting course to target skills that employers have identified aren’t being taught in a classroom setting.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Oct. 2025
Still, this hasn't quelled the anxieties of anyone with a professional or layman's interest in space science.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
In layman’s speak, the BCI , or brain-computer interface, allows Arbaugh to control a computer with his mind.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for layman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layman
Noun
-
Musk, who owns X, wants to promote the belief that the truth can be found on social media, and that the practitioners of real journalism are allegedly independent amateurs, such as Shirley, who can ask questions without being cowed by the woke agenda.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Some of the amateur sleuthing is missing important context, said Nancy Gutierrez, a spokesperson for Washington’s Department of Children, Youth & Families.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Blanc, who lived in Des Moines, Iowa, wasn’t the first tinkerer to try unclogging drains by running a cable through pipes.—
Alexander Coolidge,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Micron’s Crucial brand sold memory on sticks that tinkerers could use to build their own PCs or upgrade their laptops.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
3 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Layman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layman. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share