layman

From Middle English lay (“non-clergy”) +‎ man.

• IPA^(key): /ˈleɪmən/

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• Rhymes: -eɪmən

layman (plural laymen)

1. Layperson, someone who is not an ordained cleric or member of the clergy.
2. (by extension) Someone who is not a professional in a given field.

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

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

3. A common person.
4. A person who is untrained or lacks knowledge of a subject.
   • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 221d.

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

5. A generally ignorant person.
6. Lay-sister or lay-brother, person received into a convent of monks, following the vows, but not being member of the order.

• cleric
• priest
• monk
• friar
• expert
• specialist
• professional

• in layman's terms

• laity

• yalman