layman

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Antonyms 1.3.2 Derived terms 1.3.3 Related terms 1.3.4 Translations

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From Middle English lay +‎ man

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -eɪmən

[edit] Noun

layman (plural laymen)

1. layperson, someone who is not an ordained cleric or member of the clergy
2. by analogy, someone who is not a professional in a given field

   Carmen is not a professional anthropologist, but strictly a layman.

   Let me explain it to you in layman's terms.

3. a common person
4. a person who is untrained or lacks knowledge of a subject
   • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 221d.

     should he be held to be just a layman, or does he have some art?

5. a generally ignorant person
6. lay-sister or lay-brother, person received into a convent of monks, following the vows, but not being member of the order

[edit] Antonyms

• expert
• specialist
• professional

[edit] Derived terms

• in layman's terms

[edit] Related terms

• laity

[edit] Translations