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.
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Recent Examples of laity
To believe that churches can direct the laity on how to vote, whether for members of the school board or for the president of the country, is to deny the Christian teaching that all humans are made in the image of God and can understand and follow his will themselves.
—
Esau McCaulley, The Atlantic, 15 July 2025
Yet many donors—ministers, nonprofit leaders, and faithful laity—gave to support orthodox Christian training rooted in biblical fidelity, not the progressive agendas dominating mainline seminaries.
—The Rev. Jake Dell, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2025
Francis expanded the College of Cardinals beyond the large dioceses and archdioceses to create geographic and cultural diversity and to better represent the makeup of the laity and where the church is growing.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
As during the Protestant Reformation, the theological divide has extended beyond the clergy to the laity and the common faithful in the pew.
—Massimo Faggioli, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2018
See All Example Sentences for laity
Esau McCaulley, The Atlantic, 15 July 2025
Yet many donors—ministers, nonprofit leaders, and faithful laity—gave to support orthodox Christian training rooted in biblical fidelity, not the progressive agendas dominating mainline seminaries.
—The Rev. Jake Dell, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2025
Francis expanded the College of Cardinals beyond the large dioceses and archdioceses to create geographic and cultural diversity and to better represent the makeup of the laity and where the church is growing.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
As during the Protestant Reformation, the theological divide has extended beyond the clergy to the laity and the common faithful in the pew.
—Massimo Faggioli, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2018
See All Example Sentences for laity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laity
Noun
-
Those who stay at the shelter check in at Upper Rodeo Park before being transported to a shelter location, which is typically a local church.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The hearse, a limousine and row of cars were lined up outside the church when the gunfire erupted, witnesses and mourners who attended the funeral said.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Not all parishes can afford to pay for a support staff to fully serve the parish and our missionary aspirations.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Next spring, the parish will start its fundraising campaign.—
Desiree Mathurin
April 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
She was ordained in the 1970s, the first woman in the congregation to earn that honor.—
Myrna Petlicki,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The decision has left myriad questions for parish leaders and their congregations.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laity. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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