noun
nun
nuhn
noun
1
A woman who has taken religious vows and lives in a convent, typically as part of a Christian order.
"The nun had lived at the convent for over forty years."
2
A woman living a similarly devoted, communal religious life in other faith traditions.
"The Buddhist nun spent her mornings in silent meditation."
How to Use Nun
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA woman who has dedicated her life to religious service, usually living in a convent.
Common pairings
a convent of nuns
become a nun
nuns and priests
Word Forms
nuns plural, nuns plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “nun”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ had lived at the convent for over forty years.
Etymology
From Old English nunne, from Late Latin nonna, originally a respectful term of address for an older person, echoing baby-talk words like "nana".