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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of laity
In some temples, a monk’s duty is to sit inside one of the main halls and wait until the laity comes to receive offerings and give blessings.
—
Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
As the laity began organizing in an effort to meet these obligations, a variety of institutions external to the parish were also confronted with the parish’s new position.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 Mar. 2025
Reforms on the table include 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, 15 Mar. 2025
The laity were to be monogamous, the holy men celibate, and the actually divine would not even feel lust.
—S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laity
Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
As the laity began organizing in an effort to meet these obligations, a variety of institutions external to the parish were also confronted with the parish’s new position.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 Mar. 2025
Reforms on the table include 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, 15 Mar. 2025
The laity were to be monogamous, the holy men celibate, and the actually divine would not even feel lust.
—S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laity
Noun
-
The company partners with senior living centers, churches, and insurance providers to offer on-site classes, giving accessibility to those who may not have the resources or mobility to visit a gym.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The latter featured Delroy Lindo in an astonishing Broadway performance as a man battling the internalized power and anguish of the blues and the church.—
Armond White,
National Review,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In the South Bay, Diocese of San Jose Bishop Oscar Cantu says that Pope Francis was a refreshing voice to members of the 53 parishes throughout the diocese, where half offer Spanish masses.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Hailing from the parish of St. Catherine, near the capital of Kingston, Blake found early joy in feeding people—namely his many siblings and his hardworking mother and father.—
Jasmine Browley,
Essence,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Clergy such as Ruiz, who arrived to the United States as a teen, are now shepherding their congregations through the fear of such crackdowns.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
-
The air is thick, the landscape breathtaking, and Ryan Coogler drops us in the middle of it all as a young Sammie (Miles Caton) wanders, haunted, into his preacher father's congregation.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Laity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laity. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share