layman's terms

American  

[ley-muhnz turmz] / ˈleɪ mənz ˌtɜrmz /

laymen’s terms

plural noun

1. words or text that are easily understood, as by someone who is not familiar with the jargon of a given profession or field.

   Can you please explain in layman's terms how this economic proposal is going to affect the taxpayers?

   Keep the information simple and in everyday layman's terms.

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Etymology

Origin of layman's terms

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

During his presentation, McClellan broke down key film concepts in layman’s terms for the diverse audience who were mostly composed of film lovers and people who were simply interested in the topic.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

Immersing your body in cold water causes a stress response, known as “survival mode” or in layman’s terms, “Get me out!”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

Or put in layman's terms, a one-in-435 chance.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2025

In layman's terms, users let Fast-Cat know what ligands and precursor chemicals it has to start with, and then see how much it can learn over 60 experiments.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2024

“In layman’s terms: I discovered a cure for aging.”

From "The Fourteenth Goldfish" by Jennifer L. Holm