What does nun mean?
A nun is a woman who belongs to a religious order, especially a Christian community whose members commonly take religious vows and live according to an order's rules. The word is used in historical, biographical, and religious contexts, including descriptions of Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and other traditions. “Nun” is not simply a synonym for “religious woman”: it usually identifies membership in a recognized religious community or order. In ordinary English, the word can refer either to the person or, in phrases such as “a nun's habit,” to clothing associated with that role. It is sometimes confused in writing with “none,” which sounds the same in many accents but has an entirely different meaning. Understanding the distinction helps in reading historical accounts, literature, and descriptions of religious institutions.
nounA woman who is a member of a religious order, especially one belonging to a Christian denomination. The term may also refer more generally to a woman who has taken religious vows.
- A female member of a religious order, especially in Christianity.
"She entered the convent and became a nun."
"The nun spent the afternoon reading in the convent garden."
"Historically, many women became nuns after making lifelong religious vows."
The regular plural is “nuns,” used for multiple members of a religious order.
"The nuns gathered in the chapel for the morning service."
The word survives a long journey from Latin and medieval French, retaining its basic meaning: a woman committed to religious life.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nun come from?
The word entered Middle English through Old French nonne, which was borrowed from Latin nonna, a term for a woman in a religious order. Latin nonna was used for a member of a convent, while the precise ultimate origin of the form is less certain. The modern English word developed through this medieval French and Latin sequence and retains the original sense of a woman dedicated to religious life.
Related word forms
How nun is actually used
Usually refers to a member of a Christian religious order, though it can be used more broadly for a woman devoted to a religious life. The word is not normally used for a woman who is merely religious or devout.
Easily confused with nun
Although the two words are homophones in many English accents, a nun is a woman in a religious order, whereas none means 'not any' or 'no amount'.