friar

A friar is a male member of a mendicant religious order in the Catholic Church who typically pursues a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience and engages in preaching, teaching, and charitable works. Unlike monks, who usually live in cloistered communities dedicated to contemplation, friars live among the people and often depend on alms for support. They usually reside in friaries or houses tied to their order and may be ordained priests or serve as brothers.

Mendicant orders arose in the 13th century to evangelize urban populations. The two largest are the Franciscans (Order of Friars Minor and its branches) and the Dominicans (Order of Preachers). Other mendicant groups include the Augustinians and various reform branches. The orders emphasize evangelical poverty, study, preaching, and service to the poor, including education, mission work, and social care.

In modern usage, friar denotes male members of mendicant orders; female members are generally called nuns or sisters in corresponding female congregations. The term is most common in historical or Catholic contexts; today, members are usually identified by their specific order (for example, a Franciscan friar). The living spaces associated with these communities are called friaries.