a woman who is not a member of the clergy (= religious leaders, especially Christian priests, ministers, etc.) but who belongs to a religious group, especially a group living together in a convent, and who does simple work for the group, such as preparing food

They chatted happily to the nuns but ignored the lay sisters. 他们跟修女们愉快畅谈，但并不理会那些女役工。

The Priory housed 80 nuns and lay sisters and 40 canons and lay brothers. 该修道院住着80位修女和女役工，以及40位修士和男役工。