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
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
Clergy and laity, faithful and curious, novice and veteran attendees all packed into the world's tiniest country to be a part of the historical moment.
—Daniel Burke, NPR, 8 May 2025
The pope reserves the right to make any member of the church a cardinal, including laity.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
While in hospital, the pope signed off on a three-year reform process, including how to give greater roles to women in the Catholic Church, including ordaining them as deacons, and the greater inclusion of laity in governance and decision making.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laity
Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
Clergy and laity, faithful and curious, novice and veteran attendees all packed into the world's tiniest country to be a part of the historical moment.
—Daniel Burke, NPR, 8 May 2025
The pope reserves the right to make any member of the church a cardinal, including laity.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
While in hospital, the pope signed off on a three-year reform process, including how to give greater roles to women in the Catholic Church, including ordaining them as deacons, and the greater inclusion of laity in governance and decision making.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laity
Noun
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Mustain served at Preston Trail from 2019 to 2023, according to a statement on the church’s website.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 June 2025
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The church emerged as a safe haven because Pastor Brutus, who had ministered for 50 years and given refuge to some of the more than 1 million Haitians who have been displaced by the violence, had attained hero status.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
Noun
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The rite would be offered at only one chapel, which is not a parish, in Mooresville, 30 miles from Charlotte.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2025
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The search will focus on an area between Praia da Luz (a civil parish belonging to the town of Lagos) and one of the houses where Brueckner lived at the time the girl vanished, CNN Portugal reported.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
Noun
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The congregation of about 20 people frantically waved hand fans and watched as Jones performed the baptism.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 June 2025
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Former leaders of the Saints Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church, a 70-year-old congregation that was once a mansion belonging to Miami’s first mayor, have been ordered by a judge to vacate the property by Friday and open the doors to the Orthodox Church in America.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Laity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laity. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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