layman
/ˈleɪmən
/noun (plural laymen)
1A non-ordained male member of a Church: he was an active Catholic layman...
- The key to accomplishing this must surely be the biblical training of pastors and active laymen.
- In the United States Armenian priests are elected by laymen and ordained by bishops, but confirmed by the Patriarch, who resides in Armenia.
- The priests, pastors, and laymen of this religion are the people of America.
2A person without professional or specialized knowledge in a particular subject: the book seems well suited to the interested layman...
- Third, he made it all accessible to the intelligent layman in simple, lucid English.
- Planning law is not easy for laymen to understand, which is evident from your editorial.
- But most of it can be understood by the interested layman.
Synonyms
non-expert, layman, non-professional, amateur, non-specialist, man in/on the street;
dilettante, enthusiast, dabbler
Phrases
in layman's terms