What does quaker mean?
Quaker is a noun referring to a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian movement that developed in seventeenth-century England. Its adherents are also called Friends, while “Quaker” became the familiar external name for the movement. Quakers are commonly associated with pacifism, plain living, equality, education, and respect for individual conscience, although these qualities are not universal in every community or individual. The word also has a rarer literal sense meaning someone who trembles or quakes. The religious name is traditionally connected with an early seventeenth-century warning to “quake” before God, though the precise origin of the nickname is debated. In modern English, capitalized “Quaker” usually identifies a person or member of the denomination, while the lowercase word can evoke the older image of someone trembling.
nounA member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian denomination whose members are commonly called Quakers and are traditionally associated with pacifism, simplicity, and equality. The word can also mean, less commonly, a person who quakes or trembles.
- A member of the Religious Society of Friends, especially in the capitalized form “Quaker.”
- A person who quakes or trembles, especially from fear, cold, or emotion.
"The Quaker community has long been associated with peaceful protest and a commitment to equality."
"The Quaker spoke briefly about the importance of living according to one’s conscience."
"A small quaker in the rafters made the whole room suddenly still."
The standard plural is capitalized when referring to members of the Religious Society of Friends.
"Quakers from several communities gathered for the annual conference."
The word “Quaker” may suggest a religious tradition, but it literally recalls someone who trembles—an echo of the movement’s early nickname.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of quaker
The religious name developed in seventeenth-century England in connection with George Fox and the movement that became the Society of Friends. It is traditionally explained as a reference to Fox’s appeal to people to “quake” before God, although the exact origin of the nickname is uncertain. The word also has an older general meaning, “one who trembles,” and is formed from the root “quake” with the agent suffix “-er.”
Related word forms
How quaker is actually used
Quaker is usually capitalized when referring to a member of the Religious Society of Friends or to the movement, its beliefs, or its institutions. The literal sense meaning a trembling person is uncommon in modern usage and may sound deliberately old-fashioned or figurative.