laity

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman laite, from Latin laitas, from Ancient Greek λαός (laós, “people”).

Pronunciation

• (UK, General American) IPA^(key): /ˈleɪ.ə.ti/, /ˈleɪ.ɪ.ti/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪɪti

Noun

laity (plural laities)

1. People of a church who are not ordained clergy or clerics.
2. The common man or woman.
3. The unlearned, untrained or ignorant.

Related terms

• lay
• layman

Translations

people of a church who are not ordained

• Bulgarian: миряни (bg) m pl (mirjani) (събир.)
• Finnish: maallikko (fi)
• French: laïcat (fr)
• German: Laie (de)
• Greek: αμύητοι (el) m pl (amýitoi)
• Irish: an tuath f, na tuataí m pl
• Macedonian: мирјани m pl (mirjani)
• Manx: yn theay
• Maori: hunga reimana
• Polish: laikat (pl) m
• Russian: миря́не pl (mirjáne)
• Spanish: laico (es)
• Vietnamese: giáo dân (vi)

Anagrams

• -ality, Italy