A more thorough explanation:

laicus

In history, a laicus is a person who is not a member of the clergy or religious order. They are a layman, meaning they are not ordained or trained in religious practices.

• John is a laicus who attends church every Sunday but is not a priest or minister.
• The laicus were responsible for maintaining the church grounds and assisting with non-religious tasks.

These examples illustrate that a laicus is someone who is not part of the religious leadership or clergy. They may still be active members of a religious community, but they do not have the same training or authority as those who are ordained.