Definitions
- Referring to people who are not part of a specific profession or group. - Talking about the general public or common people. - Describing individuals who do not have specialized knowledge or training in a particular field.
- Referring to people who are not part of a specific profession or group. - Talking about individuals who lack specialized knowledge or training in a particular field. - Describing people who are not clergy or members of a religious order.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to people who are not part of a specific profession or group.
- 2Both words describe individuals who lack specialized knowledge or training in a particular field.
- 3Both words can be used to talk about the general public or common people.
What is the difference?
- 1Religious connotation: Laymen specifically refers to people who are not clergy or members of a religious order, while layfolk does not have this connotation.
- 2Gender: Laymen is a gender-neutral term, while layfolk can be seen as gendered, with the suffix 'folk' implying a group of people.
- 3Formality: Laymen is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as legal or religious settings, while layfolk is more informal and less commonly used overall.
- 4Usage: Laymen is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of contexts than layfolk, which is more limited in its usage.
Remember this!
Layfolk and laymen are synonyms that refer to people who are not part of a specific profession or group and lack specialized knowledge or training in a particular field. However, laymen is a more commonly used term that specifically refers to people who are not clergy or members of a religious order, while layfolk is an older, less commonly used term that is more informal and less versatile in its usage.
