layperson
/ˈleɪ.pɜɹ.sən/noun
layperson is spelled L-A-Y-P-E-R-S-O-N: 9 letters and 3 syllables. It appears about once in every 5 million words in written English, the 68,248th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, layperson means “A person who is not a cleric” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of layperson is laypeople or laypersons.
How many letters and syllables are in layperson?
| Letters | 9: L-A-Y-P-E-R-S-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 5 million words; the 68,248th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is layperson?
Layperson appears about once in every 5 million words in written English, the 68,248th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce layperson?
- US /ˈleɪ.pɜɹ.sən/
Layperson has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-layperson.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with layperson
Also written: lay person (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of layperson
- laypeople plural
- laypersons plural
- lay person
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does layperson mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A person who is not a cleric.
Holonyms: laity; see also Thesaurus:laity
- 2
One who is not intimately familiar with a given subject or activity.
The book was written for professionals, but an intelligent layperson could understand most of it.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Layperson in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | laïc, laïque , profane |
| German | Laie, Laiin |
| Portuguese | leigo, laico |
| Spanish | lego, laico |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does layperson come from?
A lay (“non-clergy, nonclergy”) + person, along the lines of layman.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).