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
Casting contraception as a Christian concept was a remarkable—perhaps even radical—reformulation, and one to which the laity, as much as clergy and theologians, laid claim.
—
Literary Hub,
17 Apr. 2026
This United States Conference of Catholic Bishops call for an hour of prayer, which can be offered publicly or privately, went out to every bishop, priest and the laity, according to Rockford Diocese spokesperson Penny Wiegert.
—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Despite the bishops’ protests, the laity seems to be aligning more with the president than with their shepherds.
—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Dec. 2025
As during the Protestant Reformation, the theological divide has extended beyond the clergy to the laity and the common faithful in the pew.
—
Massimo Faggioli,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Oct. 2018
See All Example Sentences for laity
Literary Hub,
17 Apr. 2026
This United States Conference of Catholic Bishops call for an hour of prayer, which can be offered publicly or privately, went out to every bishop, priest and the laity, according to Rockford Diocese spokesperson Penny Wiegert.
—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Despite the bishops’ protests, the laity seems to be aligning more with the president than with their shepherds.
—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Dec. 2025
As during the Protestant Reformation, the theological divide has extended beyond the clergy to the laity and the common faithful in the pew.
—
Massimo Faggioli,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Oct. 2018
See All Example Sentences for laity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laity
Noun
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So, Galetto was delighted to learn that the first American pope would be speaking live and receiving an award less than two miles from his church, on the eve of the nation’s 250th birthday.
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Parishioners at Saint Agnes said they were saddened by the schism and would continue to pray for a united church.
Noun
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Nell O’Leary Alt, who grew up in the parish, said her family attends both Latin Masses, as well as English services.
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The Cupichs attended a parish where mass was celebrated in Latin (the liturgical changes of the Second Vatican Council were yet to come) but the sermons were spoken in Croatian.
Noun
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And at times members of the congregation thank her and others for casting aside those anxieties and keeping this place going.
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The Zion Church is among the largest churches that are unregistered with the Chinese authorities, defying restrictions from the officially atheist Communist Party requiring believers to worship only in registered congregations.
Cite this Entry
“Laity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laity. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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