Cryptic crossword clue
No clergy, only Mae West in disguise 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word LAYWOMEN

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "No clergy" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case no clergy = laywomen.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does LAYWOMEN mean?

LAYWOMEN noun
  1. A woman who is a layperson, one who has not taken a religious oath (such as becoming a nun).
  2. By analogy, a woman who is not a professional in a given field

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