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
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
The event, which drew roughly 80 clergy and laity from across the Central Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Arkansas, was held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Conway.
—Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Online, 2 Sep. 2023
From this perspective, halachah is a partnership between the laity and the rabbinate, with the laity playing a critical role in the halachic process.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2022
The Vatican's laity office cracked down on the largely unregulated world of international associations of the faithful after some cases of abuses of authority and bad governance had been reported.
—Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, 11 June 2021
See All Example Sentences for laity
Fox News, 18 Feb. 2022
The event, which drew roughly 80 clergy and laity from across the Central Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Arkansas, was held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Conway.
—Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Online, 2 Sep. 2023
From this perspective, halachah is a partnership between the laity and the rabbinate, with the laity playing a critical role in the halachic process.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2022
The Vatican's laity office cracked down on the largely unregulated world of international associations of the faithful after some cases of abuses of authority and bad governance had been reported.
—Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, 11 June 2021
See All Example Sentences for laity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laity
Noun
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That church was opened around 1871 so could give some sort of idea around when it was built.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
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The Coptic are one of the original Christian Orthodox churches.—
Lauren Green,
Fox News,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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And now, as the ailing pontiff receives care at Rome's Gemelli hospital, Catholic Palestinians in Gaza are offering Francis their own prayers, with leaders and members of the Holy Family parish in northern Gaza praying for his recovery.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC News,
25 Feb. 2025
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The incident unraveled during a relic of St. Jude's tour at the Queen of Apostles parish in Joliet, Illinois, on Nov. 21, 2024.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
Fox News,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The congregation, which is keeping Wash Park in its name for now, works with nonprofits around town.—
Matthew Geiger,
The Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2025
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Lovie Smith and Ben Johnson were in the congregation at St. Emily’s Church for the private funeral mass the next day.—
Dan Pompei,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Laity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laity. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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