as in amateurs
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 laymen
The pipeline will provide up to 185,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas, an industry term that Fore admitted was difficult to explain for laymen.
—
Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 30 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
But laymen may be wondering, why are the writers so upset?
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
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
There’s a citizen science element as well—laymen can sign up for a laboratory experience that involves helping the team count microplastics found in water samples, or preparing bait for an underwater camera that documents local wildlife.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2022
Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 30 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
But laymen may be wondering, why are the writers so upset?
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
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
There’s a citizen science element as well—laymen can sign up for a laboratory experience that involves helping the team count microplastics found in water samples, or preparing bait for an underwater camera that documents local wildlife.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laymen
Noun
-
Given these circumstances, most of the music written for mandolin (eighty-five volumes were published in Paris between 1761 and 1783) was intended for amateurs, often women.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Pressley became a performance chef after shedding 200lbs himself and entering a cooking competition show for amateurs, judged by one of his idols, Gordon Ramsay.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Mac mini has become a status symbol among AI tinkerers, and some analysts say the device’s growing popularity may preface a broader shift in how people use computers.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Rather than targeting end users, the company aims to empower developers, researchers, and tinkerers to create breakthrough humanoid applications without building full robots from scratch.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laymen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laymen. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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