different between clergy vs layman

English

Etymology

Middle English clergie (attested in the 13th century), from Old French clergié (“learned men”), from Late Latin cl?ric?tus, from Latin cl?ricus (“one ordained for religious services”), from Ancient Greek ???????? (kl?rikós, “of the clergy”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?kl??d?i/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?kl?d?i/
• Rhymes: -??(r)d?i

Noun

clergy (plural clergies)

1. Body of persons, such as ministers, sheiks, priests and rabbis, who are trained and ordained for religious service.

   Today we brought together clergy from the Wiccan, Christian, New Age and Islamic traditions for an interfaith dialogue.

Derived terms

• clergyman

Related terms

• cleric
• clerical
• clerk

Translations

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “clergy”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

English

Etymology

From Middle English lay +? man.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?le?m?n/
• Rhymes: -e?m?n

Noun

layman (plural laymen)

1. Layperson, someone who is not an ordained cleric or member of the clergy.
2. (by extension) Someone who is not a professional in a given field.

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.

Antonyms

• cleric
• priest
• monk
• friar
• expert
• specialist
• professional

Derived terms

• in layman's terms

Related terms

• laity

Translations

Anagrams

• yalman