Lay persons are individuals who do not possess specialized or specific knowledge of a particular field, profession, or trade, and are not affiliated with any particular organization or institution. There are a variety of synonyms for lay persons depending on the context in which the term is used. Some examples include: non-experts, amateurs, novices, outsiders, non-professionals, commoners, civilians, and laity. These terms all denote individuals who lack professional or specialized skills or knowledge in a particular area, and may be used interchangeably to describe the same group of individuals. In many cases, the term lay persons is often used in the context of legal or religious matters.