Friars Travel; Monks Stay Put
A friar is a member of a religious order. What separates a friar from a monk is that a friar works out in the world.
A friar is a member of certain Christian religious orders. The distinction from a monk is real and structural: a monk takes a vow of stability and lives within one monastery, while a friar belongs to a mendicant order and travels, preaching and living on alms. Franciscans and Dominicans are friars; Benedictines are monks. The word comes from Latin *frater*, brother, which also gives *fraternity* and *fraternal*.
- A member of a mendicant order. *A Franciscan friar.*
- Monk — the contrasting term. *A Benedictine monk.*
- Mendicant — living on alms. *A mendicant order.*
- Friary — where friars live. *The old friary.*
- Latin — *frater*, brother. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | friar | A friar. |
| Plural | friars | Two friars. |
| Noun | friary | A friary. |
| Related | fraternal | Fraternal ties. |
| Latin | frater | Brother. |
- Franciscan friars founded the mission.History.
- A monk stays in one monastery.The contrast.
- Frater means brother in Latin.Etymology.
Friar or monk?
- Monk — vows stability, lives in one monastery
- Friar — travels, preaches, lives on alms
- Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, Augustinians — the four great friar orders
- Benedictines and Cistercians — monks
- Both take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience
Old French *frere*, brother, from Latin *frater*. English used it as a title for members of mendicant orders from the 1200s.
What is the difference between a friar and a monk?
A monk vows to stay in one monastery; a friar travels, preaching and living on charity.
Which orders are friars?
Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites and Augustinians are the four principal mendicant orders.