Clerical and Lay reader

Opposite meaning terms

Clerical noun - A person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church.

Usage example: some of the state's most prominent clericals have spoken out against the measure

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Lay reader is an antonym for clerical.

Nearby Words: clerk, cleric, clergy, clerically, clericalist

Lay reader noun - A layman who is authorized by the bishop to read parts of the service in an Anglican or Episcopal church.

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Clerical is an antonym for lay reader.

Cite this Source

Lay reader and Clerical. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/clerical/lay_reader

Clerical & Lay reader. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/clerical/lay_reader>.

Lay reader or Clerical. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/clerical/lay_reader.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "clerical" and "lay reader" have occurred on timeline