laity C2+ Topic:People & Society US /ˈleɪəti/ UK /ˈleɪəti/ See IPA manual 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 clergypriesthoodprofessionals Word family Related forms laylaymanlaic Etymology AI details 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 External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # 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 markdown