layman

Name: layman, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˈleɪmən/

//ˈleɪmən// noun

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“layman” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #31,632 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#31,632
frequency rank, English: 6
letters: 9
tracked misspellings: 6
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Layperson, someone who is not an ordained cleric or member of the clergy.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

layman vs Lyman

67% similar

layman vs Layton

50% similar

layman vs lama

67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for layman
Property	Value
Headword	layman
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/ˈleɪmən/
Letters	6
Frequency rank	#31,632
Misspellings tracked	9
Confusable pairs	6
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “layman” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). layman lands here:

#31,632

#1#100#1K#10K#100K

← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for layman is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈleɪmən/. Corpus data places it at rank #31,632 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for layman, with forms such as "alyman", "lamyan", and "layamn". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 6 confusable-pair relationships, "Lyman", "Layton", "lama", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English layman, lay man, equivalent to lay (“non-clergy”) + man. Cognate with Old Frisian lēkmann, lēkmonn (“layman”), obsolete Dutch leekeman (“layman”), Old High German leihman (“layman”), Danish lægmand (“layman”), Swedish lekman (“layman”), … The correct English form is layman, spelled L-A-Y-M-A-N.

Definition

1
Layperson, someone who is not an ordained cleric or member of the clergy.
2
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.
5
Lay-sister or lay-brother, person received into a convent of monks, following the vows, but not being member of the order.

Etymology

From Middle English layman, lay man, equivalent to lay (“non-clergy”) + man. Cognate with Old Frisian lēkmann, lēkmonn (“layman”), obsolete Dutch leekeman (“layman”), Old High German leihman (“layman”), Danish lægmand (“layman”), Swedish lekman (“layman”), Norwegian lekmann (“layman”), Icelandic leikmaður (“layman”).

This word in other languages

laico(Español)laïc(Français)Laie(Deutsch)laico(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: alyman,lamyan,layamn,laymann,laymman,laymna,layyman,llayman,lyaman

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of layman - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

Edit distance from "layman"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "layman"?

"layman" is spelled L-A-Y-M-A-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈleɪmən/.

What does "layman" mean?

As a noun, "layman" means: Layperson, someone who is not an ordained cleric or member of the clergy.

What words are commonly confused with "layman"?

"layman" is commonly confused with "Lyman", "Layton", "lama". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.

How do you pronounce "layman"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "layman" is /ˈleɪmən/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.

What is the origin of the word "layman"?

From Middle English layman, lay man, equivalent to lay (“non-clergy”) + man. Cognate with Old Frisian lēkmann, lēkmonn (“layman”), obsolete Dutch leekeman (“layman”), Old High German leihman (“layman”), Danish lægmand (“layman”), Swedish lekman (“... See the full etymology section above for more details.

Is PlainSpell free to use?

Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “layman”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

The one correct English spelling is L-A-Y-M-A-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /ˈleɪmən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
Don't mix it up with “Lyman” - see the side-by-side comparison. layman vs Lyman
Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.