Layman terms who is layman

Are there words you need to use that your audience may not know? You can define the words first. This effectively gives your audience a new vocabulary word and allows you to continue your explanation with the word you need to use. Always start with the simplest part of the explanation.

Cover the basics and then gradually add in the details that may be confusing. Layman is used in a religious context to refer to a person who is a regular member of a religious congregation and not a member of the clergy —that is, a layman is someone who is not a religious official like a priest.

The term clergy collectively refers to people who have been ordained or otherwise serve as religious leaders or officials, such as priests, rabbis, and nuns. People who are not part of the clergy can be called laypeople or collectively referred to as the laity.

Layman and its plural form laymen specifically refer to men but are often used regardless of gender. However, the truly gender-neutral term layperson is also commonly used. Layman is perhaps even more commonly used outside of a religious context to refer to a person who is not a member of a particular profession or who is not an expert in or knowledgeable about a particular field. Example: She has built a career as a science writer by explaining complex topics in a way that is accessible to the layman.

The first records of the word layman come from the s. What are some other forms related to layman? Today I found out the origin of the term layman. The term layman popped up around the 15th century and within about years the term laywoman also became common. In both cases, outside the non-cleric definition, they first particularly seemed to refer to people who were not specifically accredited in medicine or law, with the definition broadening from there to include any non-expert in a certain field.

A member of the laity; person not a member of the clergy. The definition of a layman is a person who is not a professional in a given field, or a non-ordained member of a church.

A person not belonging to or skilled in a given profession. A medical textbook not for the layman. See laymanize. Layperson , someone who is not an ordained cleric or member of the clergy.

By analogy, someone who is not a professional in a given field.