1
: the people of a religious faith as distinguished from its clergy
The laity has played an important role in the history of the church.
2
: the mass of the people as distinguished from those of a particular profession or those specially skilled
writers who can interpret this wholeness both to their colleagues and the laity—
P. B. Sears
P. B. SearsExamples of laity in a Sentence
a member of the laity
The laity has played an important role in the history of the church.
Recent Examples on the Web
Francis, born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio and who died April 21 at age 88, leaves a legacy in which an institution that operates under a strict hierarchy made room for women and laity to voice concerns and for bishops to rigorously debate how to best implement church teaching.
—Liam Adams, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
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
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Liam Adams, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for laity
Cite this Entry
“Laity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laity. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
laity
noun
la·ity
ˈlā-ət-ē 
plural laities
1
: the people of a religious faith who are not members of its clergy
2
: persons not of a particular profession
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