Layman
noun
A person who is not a professional or expert in a certain field.
As a layman in photography, I found the technical terms in the camera manual hard to understand.
Often appears as...
- layman's terms
- layman's understanding
noun
A non-ordained person within a church.
The church encourages laymen to participate in its missionary work.
Often appears as...
- layman's involvement
- layman's role
Usage tips
Religious
noun
A person who is not a professional or expert in a certain field.
As a layman in photography, I found the technical terms in the camera manual hard to understand.
Often appears as...
- layman's terms
- layman's understanding
noun
A non-ordained person within a church.
The church encourages laymen to participate in its missionary work.
Often appears as...
- layman's involvement
- layman's role
Usage tips
Religious
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Non-professional Context
Use 'layman' to specify someone's lack of expertise in professional or technical settings.
In the medical field, I'm just a layman.
Pro Tip 2/3Simplifying Terms
Say 'in layman's terms' when simplifying complex ideas for a general audience.
Can you explain quantum physics in layman's terms?
Pro Tip 3/3Everyday Usage
'Layman' is informal and often used to humble oneself or acknowledge a conversational partner's expertise.
As a layman, your detailed insight is invaluable to me.
Pro Tip 1/3Non-professional Context
Use 'layman' to specify someone's lack of expertise in professional or technical settings.
In the medical field, I'm just a layman.
Pro Tip 2/3Simplifying Terms
Say 'in layman's terms' when simplifying complex ideas for a general audience.
Can you explain quantum physics in layman's terms?
Pro Tip 3/3Everyday Usage
'Layman' is informal and often used to humble oneself or acknowledge a conversational partner's expertise.
As a layman, your detailed insight is invaluable to me.
Pro Tip 1/3Non-professional Context
Use 'layman' to specify someone's lack of expertise in professional or technical settings.
In the medical field, I'm just a layman.
Pro Tip 2/3Simplifying Terms
Say 'in layman's terms' when simplifying complex ideas for a general audience.
Can you explain quantum physics in layman's terms?
Pro Tip 3/3Everyday Usage
'Layman' is informal and often used to humble oneself or acknowledge a conversational partner's expertise.
As a layman, your detailed insight is invaluable to me.
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Video examples
Every Animal Deserves a...
important I think there's no other way about it like the title a deep analysis every animal is a deserter story as scientists we may collect data and sit on a boat and take all these equipments and that's okay but if we cannot collect the information and transform it in a way that the layperson can understand
Video examples
David Deutsch: Chemical...
So let me now apply this to a current controversy, not because I want to advocate any particular solution, but just to illustrate the kind of thing I mean. And the controversy is global warming. Now, I'm a physicist, but I'm not the right kind of physicist. In regard to global warming, I'm just a layman.
Video examples
How math saved my life PIPE...
typical things that guys do like pie and relativity and drawing and somehow managed to get her interested in talking to me and as we talked she said what a lot of people had told me she said when you show me the drawings and you say this in laymen terms it makes the concept really easy to understand and
Video examples
The secret lives of...
finger just wipe off and we see the elephant okay and then if we want we can continue this flow and to find out for example on the staircase the whole iconography is going to be changed a lot of laymen
Video examples
Every Animal Deserves a...
important I think there's no other way about it like the title a deep analysis every animal is a deserter story as scientists we may collect data and sit on a boat and take all these equipments and that's okay but if we cannot collect the information and transform it in a way that the layperson can understand
Video examples
David Deutsch: Chemical...
So let me now apply this to a current controversy, not because I want to advocate any particular solution, but just to illustrate the kind of thing I mean. And the controversy is global warming. Now, I'm a physicist, but I'm not the right kind of physicist. In regard to global warming, I'm just a layman.
Video examples
How math saved my life PIPE...
typical things that guys do like pie and relativity and drawing and somehow managed to get her interested in talking to me and as we talked she said what a lot of people had told me she said when you show me the drawings and you say this in laymen terms it makes the concept really easy to understand and
Video examples
The secret lives of...
finger just wipe off and we see the elephant okay and then if we want we can continue this flow and to find out for example on the staircase the whole iconography is going to be changed a lot of laymen
Example 1 of 4
Quote examples
Greta Gerwig
American Actress
There's something very satisfying about old cameras because they're ingenious. I mean when you take them apart and actually see, 'Oh, this is how we make photographs,' it's an ingenious thing, but it feels like it's in a way a layman can appreciate, whereas a digital camera, I don't even begin to know what goes into making a digital camera.
Quote examples
James Turrell
American Artist
The works of previous artists have come from their own experiences or insights but haven't given the experience itself. They had set themselves up as a sort of interpreter to the layman... Our interest is in a form where you realize that the media are just perception.
Quote examples
Suzanne Somers
American Actress
I am not a doctor or a scientist, but merely a passionate layperson, a filter, a messenger. I spoke with so many patients who are living normal, happy, fulfilled lives, and their enthusiasm and great quality of life convinced me that you can indeed live with cancer.
Quote examples
Shakuntala Devi
Indian Writer
I travelled round the world giving demonstrations of my talents. In every country, I performed for students, professors, teachers, bankers, accountants, and even laymen who knew very little, or nothing at all, about mathematics.
Quote examples
Thomas Becket
English Clergyman
I was called before the king's tribunal like a layman and was deserted in the quarter where I had looked for support. My brethren, the bishops, sided with the court and were ready to pronounce judgment against me.
Quote examples
Jamie Lee Curtis
American Actress
I'm a layperson. I barely got out of high school. I have no business telling people what to do or my big philosophy on life. I'm certainly not going to write any sort of memoir.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
There is no body of theory or significant body of relevant information, beyond the comprehension of the layman, which makes policy immune from criticism.
Quote examples
Simone Weil
French Philosopher
More than in any other performing arts the lack of respect for acting seems to spring from the fact that every layman considers himself a valid critic.
Quote examples
Laura San Giacomo
American Actress
I'm a bit of a layman physics junkie. I don't really understand it, but I love trying to understand it.
Quote examples
Joy Mathew
Indian Actor
I treat everyone equally whether you are an intellectual, a layman or an auto driver.
Quote examples
Greta Gerwig
American Actress
There's something very satisfying about old cameras because they're ingenious. I mean when you take them apart and actually see, 'Oh, this is how we make photographs,' it's an ingenious thing, but it feels like it's in a way a layman can appreciate, whereas a digital camera, I don't even begin to know what goes into making a digital camera.
Quote examples
James Turrell
American Artist
The works of previous artists have come from their own experiences or insights but haven't given the experience itself. They had set themselves up as a sort of interpreter to the layman... Our interest is in a form where you realize that the media are just perception.
Quote examples
Suzanne Somers
American Actress
I am not a doctor or a scientist, but merely a passionate layperson, a filter, a messenger. I spoke with so many patients who are living normal, happy, fulfilled lives, and their enthusiasm and great quality of life convinced me that you can indeed live with cancer.
Quote examples
Shakuntala Devi
Indian Writer
I travelled round the world giving demonstrations of my talents. In every country, I performed for students, professors, teachers, bankers, accountants, and even laymen who knew very little, or nothing at all, about mathematics.
Quote examples
Thomas Becket
English Clergyman
I was called before the king's tribunal like a layman and was deserted in the quarter where I had looked for support. My brethren, the bishops, sided with the court and were ready to pronounce judgment against me.
Quote examples
Jamie Lee Curtis
American Actress
I'm a layperson. I barely got out of high school. I have no business telling people what to do or my big philosophy on life. I'm certainly not going to write any sort of memoir.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
There is no body of theory or significant body of relevant information, beyond the comprehension of the layman, which makes policy immune from criticism.
Quote examples
Simone Weil
French Philosopher
More than in any other performing arts the lack of respect for acting seems to spring from the fact that every layman considers himself a valid critic.
Quote examples
Laura San Giacomo
American Actress
I'm a bit of a layman physics junkie. I don't really understand it, but I love trying to understand it.
Quote examples
Joy Mathew
Indian Actor
I treat everyone equally whether you are an intellectual, a layman or an auto driver.
Example 1 of 10
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