Meanings
Synonyms & antonyms
nounPeople of a church who are not ordained clergy or clerics.
Similar
Opposite
More synonyms by meaning
nounin Christianity, members of a religious community that do not have the priestly responsibilities of ordained clergy
Similar
Opposite
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekλαός“people”
- Latinlaitas
- Anglo-Normanlaite
- Englishlaity
From Anglo-Norman laite, from Latin laitas, from Ancient Greek λαός (laós, “people”).
More words from Anglo-Norman, Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian миряни
- миряни (mirjani)people of a church who are not ordained
Czech laikové
- laikovépeople of a church who are not ordained
Finnish maallikko
- maallikkopeople of a church who are not ordained
French laïcat
- laïcatpeople of a church who are not ordained
German Laie
- Laiepeople of a church who are not ordained
Greek αμύητοι
- αμύητοι (amýitoi)people of a church who are not ordained
Irish an tuath, na tuataí
- an tuathpeople of a church who are not ordained
- na tuataípeople of a church who are not ordained
Māori hunga reimana
- hunga reimanapeople of a church who are not ordained
Polish laikat
- laikatpeople of a church who are not ordained
Russian миря́не
- миря́не (mirjáne)people of a church who are not ordained
Spanish laico
- laicopeople of a church who are not ordained
Vietnamese giáo dân
- giáo dânpeople of a church who are not ordained
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with laity
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
laity. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/laity
MLA
“laity.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/laity. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “laity,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/laity.
Source: laity on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.