January 10, 2012, 12:07 am laity •\ˈlā-ə-tē\• noun : in Christianity, members of a religious community that do not have the priestly responsibilities of ordained clergy The word laity has appeared in eight New York Times articles in the past year, including on April 24 in "Westminster Abbey, Scaling Up" by Michael White: Making a state secret of a music list may sound absurd, but it's the protocol that goes with something like the marriage of Prince William to his college sweetheart, Kate Middleton. When the ceremony takes place on Friday, it will bring much of Britain to a standstill. The day has been declared a national holiday. It will create a new social divide between those who have and have not been invited to the abbey. And among the have-nots, it is expected to draw a television audience of billions worldwide. All of which places a heavy burden on the abbey personnel responsible for what takes place. Chief among them is the dean, the Rev. Dr. John Hall. Dr. Hall presides over the abbey's affairs and runs its resident community of six priests and attendant laity who live in the abbey cloisters: a gated enclave in the heart of London but miraculously separate from the noise, the bustle and the tourists that engulf it. Learn more about the word "laity" and see usage examples across a range of subjects on the Vocabulary.com dictionary.