nun

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈnən 

: a woman belonging to a religious order

especially : one under solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience

nunlike

ˈnən-ˌlīk 

adjective

nun

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈnu̇n 

: the 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet see Alphabet Table

Examples of nun in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Per People, Madonna—perhaps appropriately—chose to go as the Weeping Madonna statue, and Morris was dressed as a nun. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 2 Nov. 2026

Analysts say the appointment of a professional woman to the key post signals that Pope Leo views women differently from his predecessors at the Vatican, where nuns have tended to be the women holding senior positions. — CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Another at the same party went as Rihanna as a nun for an Interview magazine cover. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026

My white grandmother gave her baby the French name Maurice out of gratitude to the doctor and nuns who delivered him. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English nunne, from Late Latin nonna

Noun (2)

Hebrew nūn

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1567, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nun

• bun
• done
• dun
• fun
• gun
• hun
• jun
• none
• one
• pun
• run
• shun

Kids Definition

nun

noun

ˈnən

: a woman belonging to a religious order

especially : one living under solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience