Alphabetical Entries: L

used of a woman with the rank of lady; the male equivalent is "lordship."

landed proprietor, except where "laird" has specific use and meaning in Scotland.

some people who walk with difficulty report liking this word; it is not essentially derogatory nor is it necessarily used disparagingly of those who are lame. However, "lame" is also used metaphorically to mean "weak," as in "a lame excuse" or "That is so lame," and in a small way this usage insults those who have the physical condition. Avoid using "lame" to describe a person with a disability except in a quote. In the case of a leg injury, explain instead that an injury resulted in difficulty walking. In other uses, it is much cleverer to find a precise word to convey your meaning: pathetic, flimsy, ridiculous. See also disabilities.

proprietor, owner, landowner, property owner/manager, manager, leaseholder, lessor, manager, building/apartment manager, superintendent, rent collector, householder, realtor. Note the differences in prestige conjured up by "landlord" and "landlady."

landlubber; compatriot, q.v.

Sami/Saamiland. According to Baiki: An American Journal of Sami Living (1991), "The term Lapp is very dated, and is considered to be pejorative, in bad taste." "Lapp" means "outcast"; "Sami" mean "the People." In any case, the correct term is always the one by which a people refer to themselves.

use with "lad." Or, child, youth.

because not all cultures follow the same order of names, in some situations you may want to use instead family name or surname.

"there is no precise medical or legal definition of 'late-term,' and many doctors and scientists avoid that language, calling it imprecise and misleading" (Ariana Eunjung Cha, Washington Post, Feb. 6, 2019). A political construct, "late-term abortion" tends to refer to abortions during or after the 21st to 24th weeks of gestation (late in the second trimester). It is not the same as the medical definition obstetricians use for “late-term,” which refers to pregnancies that extend past a woman’s due date, meaning about 41 or 42 weeks (Pam Belluck, New York Times, Feb. 6, 2019). Jenn Conti, an abortion provider in San Francisco and fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, calls the idea “sensationalized fake news" and believes “late-term,” which is “intentionally vague." Abortion opponents claim abortion is done "up to the moment of birth," which is absolutely false; no abortions are performed during labor or in the days leading up to the due date (Susan Rinkunas, Health.com, Oct. 27, 2020). What health professionals consider to be “late” abortions are those that take place toward the end of the second trimester. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015 about 1.3% of abortions were performed at or greater than 21 weeks of gestation. In contrast, 91.1% percent were performed at or before 13 weeks. When writing about this term, place it in quotation marks to indicate its dubiousness, and ensure that surrounding information uses accurate medical terminology and discusses the life-saving necessity of abortions that occur later, their relative rarity, their legality, and their occurrence earlier in the pregnancy than is assumed. See also abortion, anti-abortion, contraception, pro-choice, pro-life, reproductive rights.

when referring to those now living in Latin America (which includes South America, Central America, Mexico, and the islands of the Caribbean), use specific designations if possible: Uruguayan, Colombian, Panamanian, Bolivian. The term is also used to refer to U.S. residents of Latin American descent, but it implies an unrealistic homogeneity and lacks precision; use it only for those so identifying themselves. See also Chicana/Chicano/Chicanx, Hispanic, Latina/Latino/Latinx, Mexican American.

pronounced "La-teen-ex," this term is a commonly used and acceptable identifier in lieu of Latina, Latino, or Latin@. With it, you need never use "Latino" or "Latinos" to inaccurately include both women and men, or the adjective "Latino" ("Latino art") as a false generic. The terms "Latino man" and "Latina woman" are redundant.. Latinx is preferred to "Hispanic," "Spanish-speaking," "Spanish-surnamed," or "Spanish" (Brazilians, who speak Portuguese, are also included in the term Latinx). "Latinx" is about geography, "Hispanic" is about language; "Latinx" means from Latin America, mostly everything below the U.S. including the Caribbean, while "Hispanic" means from a country whose primary language is Spanish. Someone from Brazil is Latinx but not Hispanic. Someone from Spain is Hispanic but not Latinx. Many people with Hispanic or Latino ancestors live in other countries but also consider themselves Latinx and/or Hispanic. In addition to men and women from all racial backgrounds, Latinx also makes room for people who are trans, queer, agender, non-binary, gender non-conforming, or gender fluid. Before using any descriptor at all, ask if it is important to your material to identify the individuals by ethnic group. When possible, ask your subjects how they prefer to self-identify. See also Chicana/Chicano/Chicanx, Hispanic, hot-blooded, Mexican American.

launderer. See also feminine word endings, laundryman/laundrywoman.

launderer, washer, clothes washer, laundry attendant/worker/hand/collector/deliverer, dry cleaner.

lawmaker, lawgiver, law officer/enforcer, law enforcement officer/agent, arm/officer of the law. Or, be specific: sheriff, deputy, judge, attorney, officer, FBI agent, detective, marshal, police/patrol/peace/traffic/highway officer, magistrate, justice, constable, warden, bailiff, guard.

lay-up worker, stocklayer.

referring to someone this way makes them an object, an incidental scratch for the speaker's itch. See also score.

layperson, laic, member/one of the laity, congregation member, parishioner; amateur, nonprofessional, nonspecialist, nonexpert, average/ordinary person. Plurals: laypeople, laity, the laity, layfolk, members of the congregation, the lay public. Although "-person" words are generally not recommended, "layperson" has gained common acceptance and is one of the few "-person" words that does not seem to jar.

plain/nontechnical/ordinary/uncomplicated/informal language, common/simple/nontechnical/easy-to-understand/layperson's terms.

layout artist/planner/worker, graphic artist, patternmaker, designer, typographer.

generally, only the one who says, "I am lazy" has a right to it as definitions of "success" and "ambition" as well as personal and financial resources vary greatly from person to person. It is especially objectionable when used of people of color (Vivian Jenkins Nelson) or poor people.

if you want a sex-neutral expression, consider revolving/relish tray.

lead-off batter.

these terms, with their nonparallel "lady/man," are deeply entrenched in the language. Sometimes you may be able to use lead, principal, star, featured performer; leading woman/leading man.

group leader, supervisor; star, lead singer, lead guitar player. See also foreman, frontman (music).

sounder, depth sounder/reader.