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

If the devoted nun resembles the raving patient, does that not justify locking them away, protecting ourselves from their unsettling power? —Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026

Plunging enrollment has dogged archdiocese schools for decades as tuition costs have climbed, while the number of free teachers (priests and nuns) has plummeted. —Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026

Now, brooding nuns walked through it. —Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026

That night, the unlikely trio had dinner and the nuns taught Diann how to play the card game Canasta. —Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 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