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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Recent Examples of laity
Young Catholics penned an open letter reminding cardinals that there is no church without young people, women and the laity.
—
Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
But the next pope will also lead a U.S. laity with some differences within it.
—Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 7 May 2025
Kevin Cardinal Farrell headed the Vatican’s family and laity office and is currently the one tasked with running the Holy See in the interval between a pope’s death and the election of the next one.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025
In a 2023 interview with Vatican News, the then-cardinal said the women had enriched the process and reaffirmed the need for the laity to have a greater role in the church.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for laity
Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
But the next pope will also lead a U.S. laity with some differences within it.
—Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 7 May 2025
Kevin Cardinal Farrell headed the Vatican’s family and laity office and is currently the one tasked with running the Holy See in the interval between a pope’s death and the election of the next one.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025
In a 2023 interview with Vatican News, the then-cardinal said the women had enriched the process and reaffirmed the need for the laity to have a greater role in the church.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for laity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laity
Noun
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The group was offering a free concert at the church as part of a U.S. tour, St. Paul's said.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
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Seemingly random bureaucratic obstacles impeded Gee’s formal conversion, leading her to feel unwanted by the church and, by extension, God.—
Terry Nguyen
July 23,
Literary Hub,
23 July 2025
Noun
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County governments are called parishes and the poverty rate is the highest in the nation.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
20 July 2025
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Two parishes in Northbrook, St. Norbert, 1809 Walters Ave., and Our Lady of the Brook were merged into one parish in May 2017, forming the Catholic Community of Northbrook.—
Phil Rockrohr,
Chicago Tribune,
17 July 2025
Noun
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Within a month, the Church of United Spiritualists was up and running, meeting in Greenwall’s Opera House until the congregation could build its own place of worship.—
Richard Selcer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 July 2025
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Foulis lost to Joe Lloyd in the third U.S. Open, which was held at Chicago Golf Club in September 1897. 1982: The Wellington Avenue Church congregation voted to join the sanctuary movement — becoming just the second church in the United States to harbor refugees who entered the country illegally.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Laity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laity. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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