laity

C2+ Topic:People & Society

US /ˈleɪəti/ UK /ˈleɪəti/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
lay people, as distinct from clergy or professionals

The reforms gave the laity a greater voice in church affairs.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · lay people, as distinct... laymencongregationparishionersflockcommoners

Opposites

clergy priesthood professionals

Word family

Related forms lay laymanlaic

Etymology

From Middle English laite, from lay (adjective) + -ity; ultimately from Late Latin laicus, from Ancient Greek laikos ('of the people'), from laos ('people').

laicus Latin λαός Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives

# laity

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** ˈleɪəti
**IPA (UK):** ˈleɪəti

## Meanings
1. lay people, as distinct from clergy or professionals

## Examples
- The reforms gave the laity a greater voice in church affairs.

## Synonyms
- laymen
- congregation
- parishioners
- flock
- commoners

## Antonyms
- clergy
- priesthood
- professionals

## Related Forms
- lay
- layman
- laic

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: laicus
- Root: λαός

## Etymology
From Middle English laite, from lay (adjective) + -ity; ultimately from Late Latin laicus, from Ancient Greek laikos ('of the people'), from laos ('people').

## AI Etymology
Laity comes from Middle English laite, from lay (adjective) + -ity; ultimately from Late Latin laicus, from Ancient Greek laikos ('of the people'), from laos ('people'). The etymological trail includes Latin laicus, Ancient Greek λαός. The same word family includes lay, layman, laic. Its current noun use means "lay people, as distinct from clergy or professionals".

## Topics
- People & Society
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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laity

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