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
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Recent Examples of layman
That's very hard to explain for the layman or the professional.
—
Pamela Avila, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
So these two feel like the perfect guides to help a layman understand the Musk phenomenon.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Both professionals and laymen have developed an interest in tracking litigation because of the broad range of industries and people affected by the administration’s changes, experts and media professionals said.
—Surina Venkat, The Hill, 1 Jan. 2026
Space is full of mysteries that can't be easily explained by the layman, and this latest one from a isn't likely to sour anyone on their fascination with space.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for layman
Pamela Avila, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
So these two feel like the perfect guides to help a layman understand the Musk phenomenon.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Both professionals and laymen have developed an interest in tracking litigation because of the broad range of industries and people affected by the administration’s changes, experts and media professionals said.
—Surina Venkat, The Hill, 1 Jan. 2026
Space is full of mysteries that can't be easily explained by the layman, and this latest one from a isn't likely to sour anyone on their fascination with space.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for layman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layman
Noun
-
The chain began in New York in 2017 and focused on group boxing classes and resistance training sessions, spanning difficulty levels from amateur to professional.—
Emma Hall,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
-
Ganne played in the final group of the 2021 Open as a 17-year-old high schooler at Olympic Club in San Francisco, eventually finishing as the top amateur.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The 19th-century patent system rewarded tinkerers; corporate labs scaled systematic research; wartime partnerships mobilized national resources; and venture capital democratized risk-taking.—
David H. Hsu,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
-
Unlike her earlier Fame Monster remixes, which served utilitarian club fodder to capitalize on her debut, Dawn delightfully surrendered its source material to a wise cast of pop, rap, and dance tinkerers like Ashnikko and Dorian Electra.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Layman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layman. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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