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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of laity
Debate over Communion for Divorced Catholics That document opened discussions about Communion for divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, spurring debate among clergy and laity.
—
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
This shift helped to support a general festive culture, as laity found creative ways to fund their local churches.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 Mar. 2025
Generosity and Buddhist laity Without donations, Buddhist temples and monastic institutions could not exist.
—Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for laity
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
This shift helped to support a general festive culture, as laity found creative ways to fund their local churches.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 Mar. 2025
Generosity and Buddhist laity Without donations, Buddhist temples and monastic institutions could not exist.
—Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
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
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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Soon after the initiation of the Israel-Hamas War on Oct. 7, 2023, Francis began making daily calls to the Holy Family parish, a Catholic Church in Gaza.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
8 May 2025
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This past weekend, thousands gathered at St. Josephine Bakhita (formerly St. Philip Neri) and Holy Family parish in Chicago to celebrate Malik.—
Sonari Glinton,
Forbes.com,
6 May 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 13 May. 2025.
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