Layman

Quick meaning: Layman is a noun meaning Layperson, someone who is not an ordained cleric or member of the clergy.

Meaning

Layperson, someone who is not an ordained cleric or member of the clergy.

More Meanings

1. (by extension) Someone who is not a professional in a given field.
2. A common person.
3. A person who is untrained or lacks knowledge of a subject.
4. Lay-sister or lay-brother, person received into a convent of monks, following the vows, but not being member of the order.

Example Sentences

should he be held to be just a layman, or does he have some art?

Let me explain it to you [[in layman's terms|in layman's terms]].

Carmen is not a professional anthropologist, but strictly a layman.

The layman, perhaps, is not fully aware to what extent even the popular reputations of scientists and scholars are made by that class and are inevitably affected by its views on subjects which have little to do with the merits of the real achievements.

Word Forms

• laymen

Synonyms for layman

Depending on context, synonyms include layperson.

Antonyms for layman

Common opposites include professional, expert, specialist, clergyman, reverend.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include layperson, secular, outsider, simple, other, lay.

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