laymen

Outsiders to professions

Laymen is the plural of layman—a person who lacks specialized knowledge in a particular field.

Doctors explain procedures in terms laymen can understand.

The word also refers to someone who isn't ordained clergy: a church committee of laymen and clergy.

The singular layman and the gender-neutral layperson are more common than the plural.

nonexpert

amateurs

Nonprofessional participants

nonprofessionalsThose without occupational training
outsidersThose not belonging
generalistsThose with broad expertise

dilettantes · novices · beginners · hobbyists · enthusiasts · dabblers · neophytes · uninitiated · newcomers · tyros

public

citizens

Members of a nation

populaceInhabitants of a place
massesBulk or populace
general publicPeople as a whole

electorate · voters · everyday people · common people · ordinary people · community · society · grassroots · rank and file · mainstream

secular

parishioners

Members of local congregation

congregantsMembers attending religious services
churchgoersRegular worship attendees
worshippersThose who revere religiously

flock · believers · faithful · communicants · adherents · devotees · nonclergy · deacons · elders · vestry

Categories

nonexpertsamateurs, novices, nonexperts, nonprofessionals, nonspecialists
newcomersnewcomers, newcomer, new arrivals, new arrival, newbie
Non-academic learnersautodidacts, self-taught

Opposites

expertise/specialization

Highly skilled practitioners

specialists · professionals · authorities · subject matter experts · practitioners

religious ordination/ecclesiastical status

laymenclergy

Ordained religious officials collectively

clergymen · priests · clerics · ordained ministers · churchmen

Phrases

layman's termsNon-specialist phrasing
in layman's termsNon-technical explanation phrase
layman's guideNon-technical introduction to subject

Family

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G