noun
- the body of religious worshipers, as distinguished from the clergy.
- the people outside of a particular profession, as distinguished from those belonging to it: the medical ignorance of the laity.
noun
- laymen, as distinguished from clergymen
- all people not of a specific occupation
n.“body of people not in religious orders,” early 15c., from Anglo-French laite, from lay (adj.) + -ity.