friar

[ frahy-er ]

noun

1. Roman Catholic Church. a member of a religious order, especially the mendicant orders of Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, and Augustinians.
2. Printing. a blank or light area on a printed page caused by uneven inking of the plate or type. Compare monk ( def 3 ).

friar

/ ˈfraɪə /

noun

1. a member of any of various chiefly mendicant religious orders of the Roman Catholic Church, the main orders being Black Friars (Dominicans), Grey Friars (Franciscans), White Friars (Carmelites), and Austin Friars (Augustinians) See also Black Friar Grey Friar White Friar Augustinian

Derived Forms

• ˈfriarly, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of friar¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English frier, frere “brother,” from Old French frere, from Latin frāter; brother

Word History and Origins

Origin of friar¹

C13 frere , from Old French: brother, from Latin frāter brother

Synonym Study

See monk.

Example Sentences

A theologian who later became a Dominican friar, he revolutionised Church teachings with his 1971 book Theology of Liberation.

From BBC

A friar who knew of his struggle encouraged him to start dating a woman, but it didn’t feel natural.

From BBC

Junípero Serra, the controversial Franciscan friar who established the mission system in California, was also on the list.

From Los Angeles Times

“It was a wonderful meditation on what is going on inside,” he said, stepping onto the street in his friar robe.

From New York Times

The church is run by an Italian order of Franciscan friars.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• cleric
• elder
• father
• lama
• monk
• preacher
• rector