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
What about further empowerment of the laity to take on larger roles within the church — particularly evangelical and managerial — reducing pressure on under-staffed parishes and leading one day to married priests as the Catholic Church allowed for its first 1,000 years?
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2024
Discontented laity and non-Catholics turn to the church hierarchy in search of catharsis — or more cynically, perhaps a chance to score political points against enemy politicians.
—Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 12 May 2024
Following the decision, a crisis of continuity has arisen between the UOC, the Russian Orthodox Church, and those clerics and laity who have assumed the name Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
—Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2023
The Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace, a group of Catholic clergy and laity in India, wrote a letter to Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai urging bishops to attend to the increasing attacks by far-right Hindu nationalist groups against Indian Christians, according to Crux Now.
—Fox News, 18 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for laity
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2024
Discontented laity and non-Catholics turn to the church hierarchy in search of catharsis — or more cynically, perhaps a chance to score political points against enemy politicians.
—Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 12 May 2024
Following the decision, a crisis of continuity has arisen between the UOC, the Russian Orthodox Church, and those clerics and laity who have assumed the name Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
—Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2023
The Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace, a group of Catholic clergy and laity in India, wrote a letter to Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai urging bishops to attend to the increasing attacks by far-right Hindu nationalist groups against Indian Christians, according to Crux Now.
—Fox News, 18 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for laity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laity
Noun
-
The couple quickly went public, begging for information or for whomever might have taken her to leave her at a hospital, church, a fire station.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2025
-
But the Russian revolution threw the Russian Orthodox denomination into chaos as American churches fought for control amid shifting alliances, eventually splitting from the mother church.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
To expand its reach, the nonprofit partners with local parishes, Seattle University student-athletes and other supporters.—
Christine Clarridge,
Axios,
6 Mar. 2025
-
The parish is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area and about 60 miles northwest of New Orleans.—
Christopher Cann,
USA TODAY,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Faith leaders worried congregations wouldn’t return, that the pandemic might spell a precipitous drop in an American religious life that was already becoming more secular.—
Jacob Turcotte,
The Christian Science Monitor,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Most American Jewish congregations say a prayer for the State of Israel every Shabbat.—
Yonat Shimron,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Laity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laity. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share