layman

Layman is a term used to describe a person who is not a member of a profession or a field with specialized training. It typically refers to someone without formal expertise or certification in a given domain, as opposed to an expert, professional, or scholar. In everyday language, laymen or laypeople are members of the general public when discussing topics that require specialized knowledge.

Etymology and religious sense: The word derives from lay, meaning non-clerical or secular, combined with man, dating to Middle English. In Christian contexts, laity refers to non-ordained members of the church, distinct from clergy. The term layman itself has been used historically in religious or educational discourse, but in modern usage layperson is often preferred to be gender-neutral.

Modern usage and nuances: In medicine, law, and public discourse, layperson emphasizes nonprofessional status and the need for information that can be understood without specialized training. The term is sometimes criticized for implying deficiency, so alternatives such as layperson, nonexpert, or nonprofessional are used depending on context. The related term laity remains common in religious settings to describe the non-ordained faithful.

The term thus sits at the intersection of everyday language and specialized discourse, with attention to context and gender neutrality.