laity
UK: ˈleɪ.ɪ.ti | US: ˈleɪ.ə.ti
n. Non-clergy members of a religious community.
n. People without specialized knowledge in a particular field (e.g., medicine, law).
laity = lai<people> + ty<noun suffix>
- lai (from Greek laos "people, populace") → Refers to the general public or non-specialists.
- ty (noun-forming suffix, from Latin -tās) → Indicates a state or condition (e.g., "equality").
Etymology Origin:
The word "laity" originates from the Greek laikos ("of the people"), derived from laos ("people"). It entered English via Old French laité, reflecting the distinction between clergy (religious professionals) and laypeople (ordinary members). The suffix -ty formalizes the concept into a noun, emphasizing the collective identity of non-experts or non-clerical individuals.
The priest addressed both the clergy and the laity during the sermon.
Medical jargon can be confusing to the laity.
The workshop aims to bridge the gap between scientists and the laity.
In medieval times, the laity had limited access to religious texts.
The book simplifies legal concepts for the laity.