laity
/ˈleɪ.ə.ti/ · la·i·ty
noun
- People of a church who are not ordained clergy or clerics. The bishop addressed the laity during the Sunday sermon.
- The common man or woman. The politician's message resonated with the laity, who felt neglected by the government.
- The unlearned, untrained or ignorant. The laity were often at odds with the clergy over issues of education and social justice.
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Antonyms
Did you know? The term 'laity' has been used in various contexts, including literature and politics, to describe the ordinary people as opposed to the ruling elite or the clergy.