friar
noun
a member of a religious order, especially the mendicant orders of Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, and Augustinians.
friars
-
pluralof friar.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Coronado, a nobleman around 30 years old, set out in early 1540 with 350 Spaniards, 1,500 indigenous allies and five friars.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026
The lantern-making tradition evolved from nighttime processions held by Spanish friars during the 300-plus years of Madrid's colonial rule, the city government said.
From Barron's ● Dec. 19, 2025
It was closely associated with the Spanish conquest, Spanish friars acting as de facto colonial administrators and the church becoming a big landowner.
From BBC ● May 7, 2025
“The Capuchin Franciscan friars are overjoyed to welcome him into the fold and witness his deep commitment to his faith journey.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 5, 2024
Shrewdly, they try to shift the terms of the argument to more congenial rhetorical ground—an approach that will force the friars to treat them as equals.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
