Quaker

American  

[kwey-ker] / ˈkweɪ kər /

noun

1. a popular name for a member of the Society of Friends.

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Quaker British  

/ ˈkweɪkə /

noun

1. a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian sect founded by George Fox about 1650, whose central belief is the doctrine of the Inner Light. Quakers reject sacraments, ritual, and formal ministry, hold meetings at which any member may speak, and have promoted many causes for social reform

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating the Religious Society of Friends or its religious beliefs or practices

Quaker Cultural  

1. A member of the Religious Society of Friends. The Quakers are a group of Christians (see also Christian) who use no scripture and believe in great simplicity in daily life and in worship. Their services consist mainly of silent meditation.

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Discover More

Quakers have traditionally been committed to pacifism.

Pennsylvania was settled by a group of Quakers fleeing religious persecution.

Other Word Forms

• Quakeress noun
• Quakerish adjective
• Quakerism noun
• Quakerlike adjective
• anti-Quaker adjective
• non-Quaker noun
• non-Quakerish adjective
• pro-Quaker adjective

Etymology

Origin of Quaker

First recorded in 1590–1600; quake + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The connections it traces are fascinating—the unexpected role of Quakers in both the Birmingham gun factories and the whaling industry, for instance.

From The Wall Street Journal

His wife, whom Mr. Murray plainly reveres, is a Quaker who doesn’t care all that much about the factual questions that bother him in this book.

From The Wall Street Journal

Quaker's rider broke his back when he was thrown off but after a year in recovery he was able to return to his duties and is riding again.

From BBC

To that end, the owner of Lay’s chips and Quaker Oats appointed a Walmart executive as its chief financial officer.

From The Wall Street Journal

This bold diagonal, cut through the prim Quaker street grid, produced a great many awkwardly shaped blocks, including the pointy trapezoid between the Parkway and the Vine Street Expressway that houses Calder Gardens.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• shock
• temblor
• upheaval