nun

A nun is a woman who has devoted her life to religious service and typically resides in a convent, monastery, or other religious community. The term comes from the Latin monacha or its Old French form nonne, meaning a solitary or religious woman. In many Christian traditions, especially within Catholicism and Orthodoxy, nuns take vows and follow a rule of life that guides prayer, work, and community living.

Historically, women sought religious life from antiquity through the Middle Ages, forming communities that ranged from isolated hermits to full-fledged convents. Nuns contribute to religious life through prayer, educational work, healthcare, and service to the poor, though the exact scope varies by order. Convents may be cloistered, emphasizing uninterrupted prayer and limited external contact, or active, engaging in teaching, nursing, or mission work.

Vows typically include poverty, chastity, and obedience. Some orders also take a vow of stability (to remain in one community) and, in contemplative communities, a vow of enclosure or cloister. Daily life often centers on the Liturgy of the Hours, communal prayer, work, recreation, and spiritual study. Governance is usually led by an abbess or prioress, with authority exercised within the framework of the religious institute and the broader church.

Contemporary nuns belong to diverse orders, such as Benedictines, Dominicans, Franciscans, and Clarisses, among others. In general usage, “nun” can denote a cloistered, contemplative sister, while “sister” is a broader term for female members of religious institutes who may engage in active ministry. Nuns remain a visible and varied component of Christian religious life worldwide.