Meanings
plural lay brothers · plural lay brethren · alternative archaic lay-brother
- ChristianityA layman who is a member of a religious congregation or monastic order without the intention to become a priest.
In feudal days lay brothers were usually uneducated commoners, who did most menial, manual labor while the learned priestly monks held the more spiritual jobs.
1 more example
2010, WHY A LAY BROTHER?, Franciscan Friars The male branch of the Franciscan family, a community of Lesser Brothers, is made up of men who are both clergy and consecrated laity traditionally called "lay brothers".
Synonyms: conversus
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA layman who is a member of a religious congregation or monastic order without the intention to become a priest.
Translations
Dutch lekenbroeder
- lekenbroedera layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest
Finnish maallikkoveli
- maallikkovelia layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest
French frère lai
- frère laia layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest
Irish bráthair tuata
- bráthair tuataa layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest
Polish konwers, brat zakonny
- konwersa layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest
- brat zakonnya layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest
Portuguese irmão leigo
- irmão leigoa layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest
Cite this entry
lay brother. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20brother
“lay brother.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20brother. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lay brother,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20brother.
Source: lay brother on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.