noun
friar
FREYE-uh
noun
1
A man belonging to certain Christian religious orders, such as the Franciscans or Dominicans, who often lives among the public rather than in seclusion.
"The friar walked into town to beg for food and preach to the villagers."
How to Use Friar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA member of a Christian religious order, similar to a monk but typically more involved in everyday community life.
Common mistake
A friar isn't exactly the same as a monk — monks usually live apart from society in a monastery, while friars traditionally travel and work among ordinary people.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
friars plural, Friars plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “friar”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ walked into town to beg for food and preach to the villagers.
Etymology
From Old French frere, "brother," ultimately from Latin frater.