Layman

Layman

The term "layman" originated from the use of the term laity, but over the centuries, changed definition to mean "a person who is a non-expert in a given field of knowledge".

The concept of describing something has come into wide use in the English speaking world. To put something in layman’s terms is to describe a complex or technical issue using words and terms that the average individual (someone without professional training in the subject area) can understand, so that they may comprehend the issue to some degree. An explicitly gender neutral version of the word is layperson.

In computing science, a layperson environment includes easy to use desktop environment and programs.

ee also

*Expert
*General-audience description
*Public
*Usability
*Jargon


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  • Layman — Lay man .; pl. {Laymen}. [Lay, adj. + man.] 1. One of the people, in distinction from the clergy; one of the laity; sometimes, a man not belonging to some particular profession, in distinction from those who do. [1913 Webster] Being a layman, I… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • layman — I noun amateur, civilian, laic, nonprofessional, nonspecialist, one who has no specialized training, unskilled practitioner, untrained person associated concepts: lay witness II index amateur Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burto …   Law dictionary

  • layman — [lā′mən] n. pl. laymen [lā′mən] [ LAY3 + MAN] 1. a member of the laity; person not a member of the clergy 2. a person not belonging to or skilled in a given profession [a medical textbook not for the layman] …   English World dictionary

  • layman — (n.) non cleric, early 15c., from LAY (Cf. lay) (adj.) + MAN (Cf. man) (n.). Meaning outsider, non expert (especially in regards to law or medicine) is from late 15c. Related: Laymen …   Etymology dictionary

  • layman — (or layperson) ► NOUN 1) a non ordained member of a Church. 2) a person without professional or specialized knowledge …   English terms dictionary

  • layman — UK [ˈleɪmən] / US noun [countable] Word forms layman : singular layman plural laymen UK [ˈleɪmən] / US 1) someone who is not trained to a high or professional standard in a particular subject the layman (= all laymen as a group): a medical… …   English dictionary

  • layman — [[t]le͟ɪmən[/t]] laymen 1) N COUNT A layman is a person who is not trained, qualified, or experienced in a particular subject or activity. The mere mention of the words heart failure , can conjure up, to the layman, the prospect of imminent death …   English dictionary

  • layman — lay|man [ leımən ] (plural lay|men [ leımən ] ) noun count 1. ) someone who is not trained to a high or professional standard in a particular subject: the layman (=all laymen as a group): a medical dictionary for the layman in layman s terms (=in …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • layman — noun plural laymen, (C) 1 someone who is not trained in a particular subject or type of work, especially when they are being compared with someone who is: the layman (=laymen in general): technical terms not easily understood by the layman | in… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • Layman — Recorded in the spellings of Layman, Leyman, Lyman, and possibly Leman, this surname is of pre 7th century Anglo Saxon origin. It is topographical and describes a person who lived and worked a farm of meadows or grazing lands. The derivation is… …   Surnames reference

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