Franciscan

noun

Fran·​cis·​can fran-ˈsi-skən How to pronounce Franciscan (audio)
: a member of the Order of Friars Minor founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209 and dedicated especially to preaching, missions, and charities
Franciscan adjective

Examples of Franciscan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Capuchin Franciscan Volunteer Corps works in cities, including the District, and places volunteers in underserved neighborhoods, concentrating on education, social services and health care. Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2024 The Florentine Codex, also called the Historia general de las cosas de Nueva España (General History of the Things of New Spain), was written by Spanish Franciscan Friar Bernadino de Sahagún between 1545 to 1590 in collaboration with Nahua elders, scribes, artists, and grammarians. Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 4 Jan. 2024 Making the right decisions Franciscan Health's emergency rooms routinely see cases of people with sinus infections, allergies, muscle aches and pains and flu symptoms, clogging up the lobby for life-threatening cases. Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Jan. 2024 The man was treated and released from Franciscan Health Crown Point. Jim Masters, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023 The Gen X Minnesotan reasoned that the San Franciscan had been at the top too long and Democrats needed some fresh blood in House leadership. Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2023 One exasperated 70-year-old who described herself as third-generation Italian San Franciscan emphasized to me, with hearty smacks to my shoulder, that San Francisco can’t become the next Detroit. Lauren Smiley, WIRED, 7 Nov. 2023 In the summer of 2024 Melville House will release his Devil's Contract: The History of the Faustian Bargain The Franciscan Sisters of Earling, Iowa took an unusual lodger into their convent in 1928, a 46 year old woman named Emma Schmidt with a history of demonic possession. TIME, 28 Oct. 2023 Former House speaker and fellow San Franciscan Nancy Pelosi attended with her family, smiling toward Feinstein and hugging the casket. Michael Lee Simpson, Peoplemag, 4 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Franciscan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin Franciscus Francis

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Franciscan was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near Franciscan

Cite this Entry

“Franciscan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Franciscan. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Franciscan

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!